Trump Faces Backlash After Meme Post Suggesting “War” on Chicago

According to Rokna in a provocative social media post on September 6, 2025, President Donald Trump stirred controversy by sharing a meme suggesting that Chicago “will find out why it’s called the Department of WAR.” The post featured an AI-generated image of Trump styled after a character from the film Apocalypse Now and implied a dramatic escalation in federal enforcement measures in the city.

The post immediately drew sharp criticism from political leaders, particularly Senator Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat from Illinois and a combat veteran. Speaking on CBS’s Face the Nation, Duckworth stated that Trump’s language was tantamount to “essentially declaring war on a major city in his own nation.” She emphasized that while there are currently no indications of troop deployments, the rhetoric was unprecedented and alarming.

Duckworth further denounced the president’s use of militaristic imagery, calling it “stolen valor at its worst,” and challenged the legitimacy of a president unilaterally making such declarations without congressional approval.

Local officials echoed her concerns. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker described the post as authoritarian and warned against the militarization of American cities. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson called the rhetoric “beneath the honor of the nation” and criticized the notion of federal occupation of local communities. Civil rights groups and community activists also voiced strong opposition, emphasizing the potential impact on immigrant populations and the sanctity of local governance.

Despite the warnings, the Trump administration continues to assert its authority over federal immigration enforcement in sanctuary cities, including Chicago. As of now, no National Guard troops have been deployed, but the controversy has sparked protests, legal scrutiny, and nationwide debate over the boundaries of presidential power.

The situation remains fluid, with city leaders, lawmakers, and citizens closely monitoring developments as tensions between federal authority and local governance unfold.