On September 6, 2025, President Donald Trump posted an image and caption on his social account suggesting a military-style immigration enforcement operation in Chicago, referencing “Chipocalypse Now” and writing, “I love the smell of deportations in the morning…” Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson publicly rebuked the post and signaled legal and civic resistance as federal agencies and the National Guard were reported to be preparing stepped-up actions.
Key Takeaways
- On Sept. 6, 2025, President Trump posted imagery and text suggesting an imminent enforcement surge in Chicago, including a reference to “Chipocalypse Now.”
- The post followed an executive order renaming the Department of Defense to the Department of WAR, signed a day earlier.
- Governor J.B. Pritzker called the post “not normal” and vowed to challenge any unauthorized troop deployments in court.
- Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson also condemned the message and urged protection of civil liberties.
- Federal agencies under DHS, including ICE, and the National Guard were reported as part of potential enforcement operations that could begin as soon as the weekend.
- Local officials said there was no formal notice to Chicago police about a broad federal deployment as of Friday.
- Court developments in California have raised constitutional questions about deploying troops for law enforcement, citing the Posse Comitatus Act.
- Community events tied to Mexican Independence Day proceeded under heightened security but without reported federal immigration actions.
Verified Facts
President Trump posted on his social platform on the morning of Sept. 6, 2025, an altered image showing military helicopters above Chicago and an image of himself in military fatigues and a cavalry hat. The post included the line, “I love the smell of deportations in the morning…” and referenced “Chipocalypse Now.”
The post came one day after the President signed an executive order to change the name of the Department of Defense to the Department of WAR. Federal officials have indicated plans to increase immigration enforcement operations in several cities, with reports naming agencies under the Department of Homeland Security, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and possible use of the National Guard.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker responded publicly, calling the President’s messaging a threat and saying, “This is not a joke. This is not normal.” Mayor Brandon Johnson also criticized the post as an attack on constitutional norms and urged Chicagoans to protect one another.
Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling told reporters he had not received formal notification of a large-scale federal deployment as of Sept. 5. Organizers of a major Mexican Independence Day parade in Pilsen reported elevated security measures; the event occurred without reported federal immigration enforcement actions.
Context & Impact
Legal and political questions surround federal use of military and National Guard forces for domestic law enforcement. The Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 restricts federal military involvement in civilian policing; a U.S. district judge in San Francisco recently ruled a similar deployment unconstitutional, though an appellate court temporarily stayed that ruling while it reviews the case.
Governors have limited options if a federal administration authorizes federal troops or federalizes forces. Pritzker has said Illinois would use the courts to challenge what he describes as unconstitutional overreach, and he has urged residents to document any incidents that may serve as evidence in litigation.
Politically, the episode amplifies existing tensions ahead of major political contests. Supporters of increased federal enforcement frame such actions as law-and-order measures; opponents see them as attempts to intimidate Democratic-led cities and erode civil liberties.
Community organizers and parade officials in Chicago’s heavily Latino neighborhoods prepared for potential disruptions tied to Mexican Independence Day celebrations, instituting tighter onsite security and encouraging peaceful turnout.
Official Statements
“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.”
Governor J.B. Pritzker (X post)
“We must defend our democracy from this authoritarianism by protecting each other and protecting Chicago from Donald Trump.”
Mayor Brandon Johnson (social post)
Unconfirmed
- Specific operational timelines for any Chicago enforcement sweep beyond public reporting that actions could begin “as soon as this weekend.”
- Exact scope and number of federal personnel, including ICE officers and National Guard units, earmarked for deployment to Chicago.
- Whether any formal written notification was provided to Illinois state authorities before the President’s social post.
Bottom Line
President Trump’s public posts signaled a potential escalation in federal immigration enforcement in Chicago, prompting strong pushback from state and city leaders and raising constitutional questions. The dispute is likely to move quickly into courts and public forums, with local officials preparing legal and civic responses while emphasizing peaceful documentation and protest.