Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has signed a new executive order that sets up a direct clash with President Donald Trump.
The move comes after weeks of warnings from Washington, with the 79-year-old signaling that his administration is preparing major operations in Democratic-led cities.
Sources have described plans that could involve federal agents, the National Guard, or even active-duty troops.
According to CNN, Johnson explained that the order was drafted as a direct response to Trump’s policies.
“We may see militarized immigration enforcement. We may also see National Guard troops. We may even see active duty military and armed vehicles in our streets. We have not called for this. Our people have not asked for this, but nevertheless, we find ourselves having to respond to this," he said.
The executive order formally blocks the Chicago Police Department from collaborating with federal authorities on patrols, arrest operations, immigration enforcement, traffic stops, and checkpoints, The Guardian reported.
It also restricts officers from wearing masks or face coverings and requires them to clearly identify themselves with names and badge numbers.
Johnson accused Trump of “behaving outside the bounds of the constitution” and being “reckless and out of control," adding: “He's the biggest threat to our democracy that we've experienced in the history of our country," per ABC News.
In a separate interview with CNN, he warned: “This is clearly unconstitutional. It’s illegal, and it’s costly. Is there more work to be done? Of course, there is. Is sending military troops into cities a way to actually drive community safety? Absolutely not.”
The White House has rejected the criticism, describing the mayor's move as a “publicity stunt".
“If these Democrats focused on fixing crime in their own cities instead of doing publicity stunts to criticize the president, their communities would be much safer,” spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said. “Cracking down on crime should not be a partisan issue.”
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Illinois Governor JB Pritzker also condemned the president's approach, accusing him of trying to “circumvent our democracy, militarize our cities and end elections.”
At a press conference, he said: “If this was really about fighting crime and making the streets safe, what possible justification could the White House have for planning such an exceptional action without any conversations or consultations with the governor, the mayor, or the police?”
Trump fired back on his social media platform, Truth Social, on Saturday (August 30), writing: “Six people were killed, and 24 people were shot, in Chicago last weekend, and JB Pritzker, the weak and pathetic Governor of Illinois, just said that he doesn’t need help in preventing CRIME. He is CRAZY!!! He better straighten it out, FAST, or we’re coming! MAGA. President DJT."
Vice President JD Vance echoed that message during a visit to La Crosse, Wisconsin: “We’re not too far from Chicago. Chicago has had a lot of crime problems.
"Why is it that you have mayors and governors who are angrier about Donald Trump offering to help them than they are about the fact that their own residents are being carjacked and murdered in the streets? It doesn’t make an ounce of sense," he added.
Whether the Chicago mayor's order will be effective in preventing federal deployment remains unclear, but the clash underscores a widening divide between Trump and Democratic-led cities.