Washington Post: The Pentagon is developing strategies for a potential military deployment in Chicago.

WASHINGTON, Aug 24 — The Pentagon is developing strategies to send the US military to Chicago as President Donald Trump announces his intention to address crime, homelessness, and undocumented immigration, according to a report by the Washington Post published yesterday.

The planning by the Defence Department, which has been underway for several weeks, encompasses multiple options. This includes the potential mobilization of at least a few thousand National Guard members as early as September, as reported by the Post, referencing officials who are knowledgeable about the situation.

"Chicago is in disarray," Trump, a member of the Republican Party, remarked to reporters on Friday, criticizing its mayor as he persisted in his criticisms of cities governed by Democratic leaders. "And we will likely resolve that issue next."

The Pentagon issued a statement late yesterday, stating: "We will not engage in speculation regarding future operations. The department functions as a planning organization and is consistently collaborating with other agency partners to develop strategies for safeguarding federal assets and personnel."

The White House did not provide an immediate response to Reuters' request for comments regarding the report from the Post.

JB Pritzker, the Democratic governor of Illinois, which encompasses Chicago, stated in a declaration that the state had not received any communication from the federal government regarding the need for assistance. He indicated that there was no emergency that justified the deployment of the National Guard or any other military forces.

"Donald Trump is trying to create a crisis, politicize those Americans who are in uniform, and persist in misusing his authority to divert attention from the suffering he is inflicting on working families," stated Pritzker.

A representative for Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson did not promptly reply to a request for comment. On Friday, Johnson expressed that the city had serious concerns regarding the consequences of any illegal deployment of National Guard troops.

"The issue with the President's strategy is that it lacks coordination, is unwarranted, and is fundamentally flawed," stated the mayor, noting that in the last year, homicides in Chicago have decreased by over 30 percent, robberies by 35 percent, and shootings by nearly 40 percent.

At the request of Trump last weekend, the Republican governors from three states announced that they would be deploying hundreds of National Guard troops over a distance of hundreds of miles to Washington, DC

The president has depicted the capital of the nation as a city overwhelmed by crime, despite data from the Justice Department indicating that violent crime reached a 30-year low in Washington last year, which is a self-governing federal district under Congressional authority.

In June, Trump directed 700 Marines and 4,000 National Guard personnel to Los Angeles, contrary to the preferences of California’s Democratic governor, amid protests regarding mass immigration raids conducted by federal authorities. — Reuters