On Sept. 6, 2025, President Donald Trump posted a military-style image on Truth Social threatening federal action in Chicago, writing that he “loves the smell of deportations in the morning” and warning the city would soon learn “why it’s called the Department of War.” The message followed an executive order signed Friday that designates “Department of War” as a secondary title for the Department of Defense and came as Chicago prepared for stepped-up federal immigration operations during Mexican Independence Day events.
Key Takeaways
- President Trump posted a military-themed meme on Truth Social on Sept. 6, 2025, using the phrase “loves the smell of deportations in the morning” and the label “Chipocalypse Now.”
- The post followed an executive order authorizing “Department of War” as a secondary title for the Defense Department.
- Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and Mayor Brandon Johnson strongly criticized the post as a threat to the city and the Constitution.
- Local organizers in Pilsen mobilized to document any immigration enforcement activities and urged community solidarity during the Mexican Independence Day parade.
- Illinois officials say federal agencies are preparing enforcement operations; a state official quoted a CBP/ICE leader saying troops were “coming” and intended to be in place by the end of the week.
- Experts warn deployments could raise civil rights and logistical concerns and may prompt protests and legal challenges.
Verified Facts
The president’s Truth Social message included an image of him in an Army uniform with helicopters overhead and the words “Chipocalypse Now.” The post quoted a line referencing the 1979 film Apocalypse Now and explicitly linked federal force to forthcoming actions in Chicago. The White House shared the post on its X account.
On Friday, the president signed an executive order that authorizes the use of “Department of War” as a secondary title for the Department of Defense. Administration officials have framed the move as symbolic of a tougher posture on immigration and public safety.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker publicly said the post “is not normal,” calling it a threat to an American city. U.S. Senator Dick Durbin called the meme “disgusting” at a Mexican Independence Day event in Pilsen. Mayor Brandon Johnson urged Chicago residents to protect one another and framed the post as an authoritarian move that would harm constitutional protections.
Community volunteers and immigrant-rights groups at the Pilsen parade said they were organizing to document detentions and other enforcement actions, with volunteers prepared to record any federal activity. Local attendees described the celebration as peaceful even as officials warned of increased operations by ICE and other federal agents in coming days.
Context & Impact
The post arrives amid the administration’s broader push to deploy federal agents and, in some cases, the National Guard to U.S. cities where officials say they will target crime and immigration violations. Earlier deployments included operations in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles following clashes between protesters and federal immigration authorities.
Analysts and local officials say federal deployments carry immediate costs and risks: logistics and taxpayer expense, possible clashes with local law enforcement and civil liberties concerns for residents in neighborhoods targeted for enforcement.
- Financial impact: an analysis cited by state officials estimates a National Guard deployment could cost nearly $1.6 million per day.
- Community impact: organizers expect heightened fear among immigrant communities, potential legal challenges and an uptick in protests and demonstrations.
- Operational impact: local police agencies may need to coordinate or respond to federal actions, stretching resources and raising jurisdictional questions.
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.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker
To suggest that the troops are coming into Chicago is an embarrassment.
Sen. Dick Durbin
Explainer
Unconfirmed
- The exact timeline and scale of federal forces to be deployed in Chicago remain unconfirmed; an Illinois State Police official said a U.S. Customs and Border Protection/ICE leader, Gregory Bovino, told state authorities that troops intended to be in place by the end of the week.
- Reports that federal forces will “occupy” the city or carry out sweeping arrests at scale have not been independently verified.
- Potential targeting of additional cities such as New Orleans was suggested by the president in recent comments but lacks confirmed operational orders available to the public.
Bottom Line
Illinois leaders and local organizers are treating the social-media threat as a serious escalation: preparing legal and community responses while seeking clarity about federal plans. The coming days are likely to determine whether the rhetoric translates into large-scale federal deployments, and whether those actions will prompt legal challenges, sustained protests or coordination disputes between federal and local authorities.