— Vice President JD Vance said Wednesday there are no “immediate” plans to send the National Guard to Chicago, urging Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker to request federal help after President Trump suggested deploying troops to address crime.
Key Takeaways
- Vance said on Sept. 3 that there are currently no immediate plans to station the National Guard in Chicago.
- He called for Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker to request federal assistance if local leaders want Guard support.
- President Trump has publicly suggested sending federal forces to cities such as Chicago and has mentioned New Orleans.
- Trump previously deployed federal law enforcement to Washington, D.C.; procedures differ between the capital and states.
- Pritzker has warned against a National Guard deployment to Chicago and has not asked for troops.
Verified Facts
Vice President Vance made the remarks on Sept. 3 while in Minneapolis, following a visit to the site of a recent school shooting. He told reporters the administration has not set a timetable or troop numbers for any National Guard deployment to Chicago.
Vance repeated the administration’s position that the president believes he has legal authority to protect American citizens in major cities, and he emphasized the administration would prefer state governors to invite federal assistance. He singled out Gov. JB Pritzker by name as someone who has not sought such a request.
President Trump has publicly discussed using federal personnel to “straighten out Chicago,” and has at times framed deployments as a response to rising crime in Democratic-run cities. Trump also raised New Orleans as a possible focus for federal action.
Earlier this year the administration deployed federal law enforcement to Washington, D.C. The federal government’s authority to operate in the capital differs in practice from operations in states, where governors typically control National Guard activation unless different federal statutes are invoked.
Context & Impact
Federal deployment to U.S. cities is politically charged: Republican leaders have pushed for visible federal action in some Democratic-run cities, while Democratic officials and local leaders often resist federal intervention as an overreach.
If a governor requests National Guard assistance, the state and federal governments typically coordinate on mission scope, rules of engagement and duration. Without a governor’s request, federal options become more legally and politically complicated.
- Political dynamic: Deployments can reinforce messages about law-and-order and federal authority.
- Legal complexity: State requests simplify deployment; unilateral federal moves raise legal and political objections.
- Operational scope: National Guard missions vary widely — from logistics and support to security duties — depending on agreements with state authorities.
“I mean, look, there are no immediate plans,”
Vice President JD Vance
“We want the governor to be a partner here,”
Vice President JD Vance
Unconfirmed
- No public timeline or troop count has been announced for any potential Chicago deployment.
- Reports that the administration has a final plan to move Guard units into Chicago remain unverified.
- Discussion of New Orleans as the next target for federal enforcement has been raised by officials but lacks formal action or request from state leaders.
Bottom Line
As of Sept. 3, 2025, the administration has signaled willingness to deploy federal forces but says there are no immediate plans to send the National Guard to Chicago. Any future deployment would hinge on requests and legal pathways involving state officials, making immediate large-scale action unlikely without Illinois cooperation.