President Donald Trump has authorised the deployment of 300 National Guard troops to Chicago after weeks of unrest and tension with local leaders. The White House said the troops are being sent to protect federal facilities and personnel, while Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker criticised the decision as unnecessary and politically motivated.
The move follows an incident in which federal agents shot and wounded a woman in Chicago. The Department of Homeland Security stated that agents acted in self-defence after being surrounded by vehicles, though local officials said the case remains under investigation.
Meanwhile, in Oregon, a federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s plan to deploy National Guard troops to Portland. U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut ruled that the situation did not warrant federal intervention and that local law enforcement could manage protests without military assistance. The restraining order will remain in effect pending further hearings.
The dual developments have intensified debate over Trump’s use of federal forces in U.S. cities, with critics accusing him of politicising law enforcement ahead of the election.
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