(NewsNation) — President Donald Trump posted an image to Truth Social Saturday, warning the city of Chicago in an ongoing threat to send federal agents and the National Guard to combat illegal immigration and crime.
“I love the smell of deportations in the morning… Chicago about to why out why it’s called the Department of WAR,” the post said.
The image depicts Trump in a black cavalry hat, aviator sunglasses, white undershirt, dark green collared short-sleeve shirt and dark pants. Lake Michigan and the Chicago city skyline sit in the background, with smoke and fire spreading and five helicopters overhead.
“Chipocalypse Now” in lettering resembling the poster for the 1979 film “Apocalypse Now” appears on the computer-generated image as well.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker responded shortly after, posting to X: “The President of the United States is threatening to go to war with an American city. This is not a joke. This is not normal. Donald Trump isn’t a strongman, he’s a scared man. Illinois won’t be intimidated by a wannabe dictator.”
Illinois leaders warn of ‘mayhem’ ahead of ICE operations in Chicago
Trump has repeatedly said he plans to deploy the Guard to crack down on crime, though the National Guard has not received any new orders to deploy to an additional location, a military official said. Guardsmen were deployed to Washington, D.C. in August.
Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson have pushed back against Trump’s efforts.
“We’re going to immediately go to court, if National Guard or other military troops are sent to, deployed to the city of Chicago, immediately go to court,” Pritzker said Thursday.
Many feared this weekend, which coincides with Mexican Independence Day celebrations, would be their arrival. Each year, organizations host parades, a hallmark of the large Hispanic population’s culture.
The National Guard responded to anti-immigration protests in Los Angeles over the summer, and Trump has said New Orleans is next on his list to address crime.
