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* The Hill…
President Trump told a gathering of military leaders Tuesday they should use American cities as “training grounds” and described a federal crackdown on crime in major cities as necessary due to “a war from within.”
Trump addressed dozens of top generals and admirals in Quantico, Va., where he said defending the homeland was the military’s “most important priority.” He signaled the leaders in the room could be tasked with aiding in federal interventions in Democratic-led cities such as Chicago and New York City.
“They’re very unsafe places, and we’re going to straighten them out one by one,” Trump said. “And this is going to be a major part for some of the people in this room. That’s a war, too. It’s a war from within.”
“I told [Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth], we should use some of these dangerous cities as training grounds for our military — National Guard, but our military, because we’re going into Chicago very soon,” Trump added. “That’s a big city with an incompetent governor.”
*** UPDATE 1 *** Gov. Pritzker this afternoon…
Let me start by saying it appears that Donald Trump, not only has dementia set in, but he’s copying tactics of Vladimir Putin sending troops into cities, thinking that’s some sort of proving ground for war, or that indeed there’s some sort of internal war going on in the United States, is just frankly, inane and and I’m concerned for his health.
* When asked what he plans to about ICE enforcement and military intervention…
You’ve asked this question before, and I want to answer again. First of all, we’re a state that follows the law. We follow the law. There is nothing that we can do in terms of putting people our law enforcement in the way of federal law enforcement when they are carrying out wrong but accurate federal laws.
We need comprehensive immigration reform. That is what will matter. And what we can do when it comes to troops being sent in to Chicago and to the state of Illinois is immediately go to court. We’re prepared to do that. … But believe me when I tell you that the law is on our side when it comes to keeping troops out of the city and out of the state.
* Asked why he won’t cooperate with the federal government, Pritzker said…
We absolutely cooperate when we’ve got federal officials helping us, or when we can help them go after criminals. That’s not what they’re doing. What they’re doing is, you know, you’ve heard the term ’round up the usual suspects,’ like, ‘Let’s just get everybody who has brown skin, and just one by one, go through them until we find somebody who’s done something wrong.’ That is not the way we do law enforcement in this country.
* Broadview situation…
We’re in constant and consistent communication with Broadview police, with the Broadview Mayor, offering every bit of assistance. We are providing perimeter assistance through the state police, continual conversation with the governor’s office and the mayor’s office. They have requested certain kinds of equipment, some of which we can provide.
[Asked what sort of support he’s sending]
Things like gas masks, things that a normal police department, especially a small one like Broadview might not have. So they’re just asking for support in that way.
*** UPDATE 2 *** The president also said this today when speaking to US military leaders…
Trump to generals: "America is under invasion from within. We're under invasion from within. No different than a foreign enemy, but more difficult in any ways because they don't wear uniforms. At least when they're wearing a uniform you can take them out." pic.twitter.com/LZw4W73LdQ
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 30, 2025
* AP…
[Trump] also complained about “insurrectionists” who are funded by “the radical left.”
* Meanwhile, the NY Times appears to have confirmed what the governor said yesterday…
One hundred National Guard troops will be deployed to Illinois at the request of the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. military officials said on Monday, a mobilization that would occur over the objections of Gov. JB Pritzker of Illinois, a Democrat. […]
It was unclear when troops would be deployed in Illinois or where they would be sent.
* Darren Bailey agrees with the decision to send troops…
It is a shame that the federal government has to send the military into Chicago just to protect ICE officers. This is what failed leadership looks like.
If Governor JB Pritzker would cooperate with federal officials instead of making ICE the enemy, and if Mayor Brandon Johnson would put more officers on the street instead of leaving families defenseless, we wouldn’t be here today. Illinois families deserve better. They deserve leaders who stand with law-abiding citizens, not criminals. They deserve leaders who enforce our laws and keep our streets safe. If Pritzker and Johnson did their jobs, the military would never have to step in.
*** UPDATE 3 *** From the Pritzker campaign…
Darren Bailey is proving yet again that he’s running to be Donald Trump’s most loyal MAGA lapdog. The truth is, Illinoisans see right through Trump’s National Guard stunt. Our communities don’t want military troops on city streets. They want investments in law enforcement, community violence prevention efforts, and actual solutions that keep people safe – things that Donald Trump is cutting funding for in Washington.
Bailey has made his choice: he stands with Donald Trump and his extreme MAGA agenda. JB Pritzker stands with Illinoisans.
* Fox News…
Hundreds of federal agents carried out a “targeted immigration enforcement operation” early Tuesday in Chicago, Illinois, against suspected Tren de Aragua gang members.
The FBI confirmed the operation to FOX32 Chicago, noting that its agents assisted the U.S. Border Patrol in the city’s South Shore neighborhood. The operation — which involved almost 300 agents — targeted six people associated with the Venezuelan gang, according to Fox News senior correspondent Mike Tobin. […]
Footage captured overnight showed agents converging on an apartment building in the area. At one point, a helicopter dropped snipers down onto the building’s roof.
Video is here.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Sep 30, 25 @ 1:40 pm
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==This is what failed leadership looks like.==
Darren is correct, just not in the way he thinks he is.
Comment by Roadrager Tuesday, Sep 30, 25 @ 1:43 pm
It seems like they’ve already moved beyond the training ground phase….
Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Tuesday, Sep 30, 25 @ 1:43 pm
==The operation — which involved almost 300 agents — targeted six people==
Holy cow, what a waste. Were they hoping to kidnap a bunch of people from South Korea again?
Comment by BE Tuesday, Sep 30, 25 @ 1:46 pm
“Can you imagine a masked marine? It is a matter of honor — and honor still matters. To us, masks are associated with cowardly desperados and the despised Ku Klux Klan. In all our history we have never tolerated an armed masked secret police.”
AAUP v. Rubio, 1:25-cv-10685-WGY (D. Mass. Sept. 30, 2025)
Comment by pc Tuesday, Sep 30, 25 @ 1:53 pm
Re: Bailey quote
=== the federal government has to send the military into Chicago ===
He should have saved this until after the primary. Game over, Bailey. Next?
Comment by H-W Tuesday, Sep 30, 25 @ 2:01 pm
@ BE
Notice the conditional wording - six people associated with.
Associated implies the six are not members, but that they live in proximity to where the police thought they might find members of the gang.
It does not imply anything more. So other than the 300 agents arresting six people in an apartment building, we can conclude the mission failed miserably. At least, I would conclude that.
Comment by H-W Tuesday, Sep 30, 25 @ 2:07 pm
After three calls from concerned veterans (I’m guessing traditional Republicans), I caught the last 30 minutes of Trump’s rambling talk. He said a bunch of strange and false things, but he finished strong in the last five minutes, when he finally read from the prepared script.
I personally was surprised at how disjointed and depressed he seemed. I share my constituents’ concerns. He’s abusing our military, as well as our rights.
Comment by walker Tuesday, Sep 30, 25 @ 2:08 pm
I’m concerned about the crystal meth and fentanyl production facilities in downstate Illinois. Why isn’t Baylee cooperating with the Federal gov’t? More failed leadership on his part. Send in the Marines!
Comment by Jerry Tuesday, Sep 30, 25 @ 2:12 pm
“… surprised at how disjointed … he seemed.”
Listening to him, reminded of the post “Aloha from Hawai’i” version of Elvis.
Comment by Anyone Remember Tuesday, Sep 30, 25 @ 2:17 pm
@H-W - true, they were going after not even 6 gang members but six people who might know gang members. Who might have shopped at the same grocery store. Good grief.
And the helicoptering in snipers sounds like wanna-be-action-hero bravado.
Comment by BE Tuesday, Sep 30, 25 @ 2:23 pm
PC - thanks for the cite of Judge Young’s opinion in the AAUP v. Rubio case. Just sent the judge a thank you note.
Comment by Paddyrollingstone Tuesday, Sep 30, 25 @ 2:45 pm
Might this be a way of diverting attention from the staffing shortages in some of the Armed Forces?
Comment by Ares Tuesday, Sep 30, 25 @ 3:12 pm
===Might this be a way of diverting attention from the staffing shortages in some of the Armed Forces?===
Whatever the topic, somebody always thinks an act or statement is a diversion from something else.
It’s really quite tiring.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Sep 30, 25 @ 3:15 pm
The more I read Baylee’s comment the more I believe He does not understand how our system of government works.
Comment by Jerry Tuesday, Sep 30, 25 @ 3:44 pm