State and city leaders swiftly responded to a post from President Donald Trump that signaled deportations would occur in Chicago in parody meme referencing the 1979 film “Apocalypse Now” on the social media platform Truth Social Saturday.
‘”I love the smell of deportations in the morning…Chicago about to find out why it’s called the Department of WAR,'” the post read.
The dramatic meme shows Trump in front of the Chicago skyline with helicopters above, along with flames and a cloud of smoke. The president’s post referenced the “Department of War,” which was approved as a secondary title to the Department of Defense under an executive order he signed Friday.
Amped-up federal immigration enforcement efforts were expected in Chicago as early as this weekend, with operations based at Naval Station Great Lakes in suburban North Chicago. Along with increased immigration enforcement, Trump previously said the National Guard would be deployed to Chicago to crack down on crime.
Trump’s post comes on the morning of large Mexican Independence Day celebrations in Chicago. Earlier this week, Pritzker said he has “reason to believe” the timing of Trump’s threats to send specialized ICE tactical units to Chicago during the month of September could be intentional, and that he was “deeply concerned” that ICE would target Mexican Independence Day events in the area.
Illinois Senator Dick Durbin addressed the tweet while speaking at the Mexican Independence Day parade in Pilsen Saturday, saying “for the president to come out with these threatening words is disgusting.” Congressman Mike Quigley spoke alongside Durbin, addressing the impact looming federal immigration enforcement has had on the community.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson were also quick to address the comments in their own posts on social media.
Senator Dick Durbin
Speaking at the Mexican Independence Day Parade in Pilsen Saturday afternoon, Durbin said Trump’s tweet was “disgusting.”
“To suggest that the troops are coming into Chicago or that the Department of War is going to be engaged is an embarrassment,” Durbin said. “This is a peace-loving community trying to do their best to make a living and raise a family. For the president to come out with these threatening words is disgusting.”
Durbin added that he’s seen a “genuine fear of what President Trump is going to do next” while traveling through the neighborhoods in Chicago over the past few days.
Congressman Mike Quigley
Speaking alongside Senator Durbin at the parade, Congressman Mike Quigley addressed the imminent immigration enforcement and the impact it has had on local communities.
“The point today is this, this is more than a parade today. This is a show of unity. This is a reminder that there’s more that unites us than divides us. This is the time to step up and step together and appreciate why this matters. Proud to be here at another parade but today is so much more important than that. We are going to stand together in Chicago.”
“I just want to tell those who would think about what the president is doing with the national guard, if all you cared about in this respect was making our communities safer, the president cut $800 million in grants that would fight crime, and the money they spent in putting the national guard out in Los Angeles, Chicago could hire 2,000 police officers and we could continue to work with the non-violent, the groups that fight violence in our communities like Chicago CRED, Arne Duncan’s group, to actually prevent crime before it happens.
“If the federal government wants to help Chicago, we’re willing to work with them. This is doing the opposite, its tearing the fabric of our community apart.”
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker responded to Trump’s social media post with his own post, saying the president threatened “to go to war with an American city,” stating “this is not a joke.”
“…This is not normal,” the governor said, in part. “Donald Trump isn’t a strongman, he’s a scared man. Illinois won’t be intimidated by a wannabe dictator.”
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. Donald Trump isn't a strongman, he's a scared man. Illinois won’t be intimidated by a wannabe dictator. pic.twitter.com/f87Zek7Cqb
— Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) September 6, 2025Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson also expressed disdain with the post.
Writing on X, he said Trump, in part, “wants to occupy our city and break our Constitution.”
“The President’s threats are beneath the honor of our nation, but the reality is that he wants to occupy our city and break our Constitution,” the mayor stated. “We must defend our democracy from this authoritarianism by protecting each other and protecting Chicago from Donald Trump.”
The President’s threats are beneath the honor of our nation, but the reality is that he wants to occupy our city and break our Constitution. We must defend our democracy from this authoritarianism by protecting each other and protecting Chicago from Donald Trump. pic.twitter.com/B7AH1ufByH
— Mayor Brandon Johnson (@ChicagosMayor) September 6, 2025Hence then, the article about chicago leaders respond to trump s social media post signaling deportations was published today ( ) and is available on NBC Chicago ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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