President Donald Trump has escalated his federal crackdown on crime by suggesting that American cities, particularly those led by Democrats such as Chicago and New York City, be used as “training grounds” for military and National Guard forces. Speaking on September 30, 2025, at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, Trump described the surge as part of a “war from within,” targeting what he called internal threats.
Trump criticized the mayors and governors of cities like Chicago for allegedly failing to maintain safety and said he told Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that the military would be involved in upcoming crackdowns. The White House has already deployed troops in Washington, D.C., and Memphis and announced plans for Portland, Oregon.
Democratic leaders have decried the move as authoritarian, while Trump insisted it was necessary to defend the homeland from “invasion from within,” drawing parallels to foreign enemies but noting they do not wear uniforms.
