Overview

• On Truth Social, the president posted an AI image styled after Apocalypse Now and wrote, “I love the smell of deportations in the morning.”
• Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker called the message a threat to declare war on an American city, saying it is “not a joke” and “not normal,” and labeled Trump a “wannabe dictator.”
• Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said the remarks signal a plan to “occupy our city” and “break our Constitution,” urging protection of democracy.
• The administration has not outlined concrete plans or a timeline for Chicago, though it previously activated the National Guard and placed D.C. police under federal control and mobilized forces in Los Angeles tied to ICE operations.
• Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has announced further ICE actions, with reports noting Chicago would be the third Democratic-led city targeted and that Trump has floated interventions in Baltimore, New York, and New Orleans.