Former President Barack Obama is coming out of retirement to sound the alarm on Donald Trump 's potential plan to take over Chicago. Trump has suggested sending armed National Guard troops into New York and Obama's hometown of Chicago to bring an end to rampant crime.
Obama broke his silence to criticize his presidential successor while noting Trump's rampant militarization of police 'puts the liberties of all Americans at risk.' 'This interview, which is also available to listen to as a podcast, provides a useful overview of some of the dangerous trends we've been seeing in recent months regarding federalization and militarization of state and local police functions,' Obama wrote on X.
The former president attached a New York Times op-ed by Ezra Klein that details how cities and states have begun to militarize their police under Trump. 'The erosion of basic principles like due process and the expanding use of our military on domestic soil puts the liberties of all Americans at risk, and should concern democrats and republicans alike.'
Earlier on Thursday, Trump said on Truth Social that Democratic Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is not 'capable' of handling the murders in Chicago. The president suggested he may launch his own crackdown like the one currently taking place in DC. 'Governor Pritzker had 6 murders in Chicago this weekend. 20 people were shot. But he doesn't want to ask me for help. Can this be possible?'
'The people are desperate for me to STOP THE CRIME, something the Democrats aren't capable of doing. STAY TUNED!!! President DJT'
Last week, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, 'We're going to make our cities very, very safe.'
On Monday Trump called Pritzker 'corrupt' while slamming the city's Mayor Brandon Johnson as 'incompetent.' Trump's threat to take over Chicago with National Guardsmen sparked outrage from Democratic leaders, including Pritzker who said he would resist the White House.
'Instead, I say, "Mr. President, do not come to Chicago. You are neither wanted here nor needed here,"' Pritzker told the press.
The Trump administration's armed take over of the Capital has been assisted by six different GOP-led states. A total of 2,000 National Guard troops occupy the city with rifles and pistols.
The administration says over a 1,000 arrests have been made since Trump federalized the city earlier this month. Nearly half of all those arrested are illegal immigrants the administration has vowed to remove from the country as they pursue their mass deportation effort.