Today, Explained Trump deploys the National Guard
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Oct 8, 2025 Dan Petrella, a political reporter for the Chicago Tribune, and Isaac Stanley-Becker, a staff writer at The Atlantic, dive deep into the deployment of the National Guard in Chicago and Portland. They unravel rising tensions in Chicago due to confrontations with federal agents and Trump's contentious tweets targeting local leaders. Meanwhile, in Portland, they fact-check claims of the city being a 'war zone' amidst protest activity and discuss the implications of Antifa's presence. Legal challenges grip both cities, leaving the federal government's motives under scrutiny.
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Guard Troops Staged, Not Deployed
- Texas National Guard troops arrived in Joliet but had not been deployed onto Chicago streets yet.
- The city and suburbs awaited clarity on if and how the troops would be used amid heightened tensions.
Enforcement Encounters Escalate Local Tensions
- Confrontations with ICE and CBP have spilled into neighborhoods, hospitals, and schools across Chicago.
- Use of tear gas and pepper balls at protests heightened fears about escalation if troops are introduced.
Presidential Rhetoric Raises Stakes
- President Trump publicly demanded jailing Chicago leaders for allegedly failing to protect ICE officers.
- The rhetoric intensified partisan conflict and alarm among local officials.