Democrats are condemning President Trump’s recent social media post that suggested military action and deportations in Chicago, calling it an inappropriate threat against U.S. cities.
Democrats across the United States are voicing strong criticism of President Donald Trump following a controversial social media post that appeared to threaten Chicago with military intervention and deportations. The post, shared on Truth Social, featured an AI-generated image of Trump styled as Robert Duvall’s character from the iconic Vietnam War film “Apocalypse Now.” The image was accompanied by the phrase “Chipocalypse Now” and a play on a famous quote from the film: “I love the smell of deportations in the morning.”
In the post, Trump stated, “Chicago about to find out why it’s called the Department of WAR,” referencing his recent executive order that renamed the Department of Defense to the Department of War. This provocative message has sparked outrage among local and state leaders, particularly as discussions about deploying the National Guard to address crime in Chicago have intensified.
California Governor Gavin Newsom was among the first to respond, condemning Trump for using military personnel as “political pawns.” He urged Americans not to become desensitized to such threats, stating, “The President of the United States is deploying the military onto US streets and using our troops like political pawns.” Newsom’s comments reflect a broader concern among Democrats regarding the militarization of domestic issues.
Illinois Senators Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin also expressed their disapproval of Trump’s remarks. Duckworth, a combat veteran and retired Army National Guard lieutenant colonel, asserted, “No Donald, Chicago is not your war zone.” Durbin echoed her sentiments, criticizing Trump for diverting attention from pressing national issues such as job reports and public health crises. He described the notion of deploying troops to Chicago as “disgusting” and an embarrassment for the nation.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker joined the chorus of criticism, labeling Trump’s threats as a serious matter. “The President of the United States is threatening to go to war with an American city,” Pritzker wrote. “This is not a joke. This is not normal. Donald Trump isn’t a strongman; he’s a scared man. Illinois won’t be intimidated by a wannabe dictator.”
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has also been vocal in his opposition to Trump’s comments. He highlighted recent data indicating a decline in violent crime in the city, with homicides and robberies decreasing by over 30% and shootings dropping by nearly 40%. Johnson remarked, “The President’s threats are beneath the honor of our nation, but the reality is that he wants to occupy our city and break our Constitution.” He emphasized the need to protect democracy from what he described as authoritarianism.
The backlash against Trump’s post underscores the growing tension between the federal government and local authorities regarding crime and public safety. As discussions about the potential deployment of the National Guard continue, Illinois leaders remain firm in their stance against what they perceive as unwarranted military threats against American cities.
According to Fox News, the situation continues to evolve as local leaders prepare to respond to any federal actions that may arise.
Source: Original article