Trump’s Insurrection Act Threat Deepens Clash With Democratic Cities
Hundreds of Texas National Guard soldiers gathered on Tuesday at a military base outside Chicago. The move followed President Donald Trump’s renewed threat to invoke the Insurrection Act, a rarely used law that allows the deployment of federal troops inside U.S. cities.
Trump’s comments intensified his ongoing power struggle with Democratic-led cities, raising questions about the limits of presidential authority.
Trump Keeps Insurrection Act Option Open
On Tuesday, Trump again said he may use the Insurrection Act to bypass court rulings blocking troop deployments. A federal judge had temporarily stopped the Guard from heading to Portland, Oregon, while another allowed deployments to Chicago, where federal agents are targeting illegal immigration.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump defended his stance. He claimed troops are needed to protect federal buildings and support efforts to combat crime.
“If the governor can’t do the job, we’ll do the job,” he said, calling the plan “very simple.”
A Law Rarely Used Since 1992
The Insurrection Act, last invoked by President George H.W. Bush during the 1992 Los Angeles riots, grants presidents authority to use military force during major unrest. Normally, the National Guard operates under state governors and cannot perform civilian law enforcement duties. The act provides a narrow exception, allowing troops to police and arrest in emergencies.
Experts warn this would mark a major escalation. Randy Manner, a retired Army major general, said using the act as Trump suggests has no modern precedent. “It’s an extremely dangerous slope,” he said. “It’s the definition of dictatorship and fascism.”
Tensions Rise in Chicago and Portland
Trump has ordered Guard deployments to Chicago and Portland, following earlier actions in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. He claims these cities face rising lawlessness, a claim Democratic leaders dispute.
On Tuesday, Texas Guard units assembled at an Army Reserve Training Center in Elwood, Illinois, about 80 kilometers southwest of Chicago. The timeline for their operations remains unclear.
Local officials say protests over immigration policies have been mostly peaceful. Crowds continue to fill restaurants and beaches as crime rates decline. Demonstrations have been far smaller than those seen after the 2020 George Floyd protests.
At one immigration processing center in Broadview, tensions have occasionally turned violent. Federal officers have used tear gas and rubber bullets. Several protesters and at least one journalist have been arrested or injured.
Illinois Sues to Stop Federalization
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker accused Trump of using Guard troops as “political props.” The state of Illinois and the city of Chicago have filed lawsuits to block the federalization of 700 Guard troops—300 from Illinois and 400 from Texas.
A federal judge in Chicago has allowed the deployment to proceed temporarily but ordered the government to respond by Wednesday. In Oregon, a separate court has blocked troop deployments to Portland.
Legal and Political Fallout
The National Guard typically responds to natural disasters or local emergencies under state command. Trump’s broader use of troops could face legal challenges. The Supreme Court has ruled that only the president can decide if conditions justify invoking the Insurrection Act. However, constitutional experts warn that doing so to control peaceful protests could spark a major legal and political crisis.
