By Shumaila Aslam,
Bureau Chief Pakistan,
Scandinavian News Agency
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Sunday sharply criticized former President Donald Trump’s plan to send federalized National Guard
troops into Chicago, calling it a “manufactured crisis” and accusing him of “playing games with the lives of Americans.”
Speaking on CNN’s State of the Union, the New York Democrat condemned the move as an “unprecedented domestic deployment of the
military,” escalating a trend that began with armed troops patrolling Washington D.C. and earlier deployments in Los Angeles in June.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson reacted with alarm, branding the plan “the most flagrant violation of our Constitution in the 21st century.”
He argued that bypassing state and local authorities undermines both democratic norms and public trust.
The Pentagon confirmed over the weekend that preparations are underway for potential deployment, though details remain unclear.
The move has already triggered backlash from Democratic leaders who view it as federal overreach into local governance.
The growing clash highlights deepening divisions over the use of federal military power within U.S. cities, an issue likely to intensify as the 2024 presidential campaign season heats up.
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