Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson says Trump a serious threat who ‘does not want another election’

Democrat Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson accused President Donald Trump on MSNBC Friday of posing a grave threat to democracy.

The Trump administration sought assistance from a military facility outside Chicago to support federal immigration efforts, as ICE prepares to target the city in an upcoming crackdown. In an appearance on “The Briefing with Jen Psaki,” Johnson said Trump has “trampled” on the foundations of democracy and worked to inject partisanship into once neutral institutions.

“You know the president has already made it very clear that he does not want another election, and we have to take those type of threats that he has put forward seriously. And it is quite obvious that he is not supportive of our Constitution, and that’s really what it boils down to in this moment,” Johnson told host Jen Psaki.

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“Either you support the Constitution, or you do not. And this president has literally trampled on the sensibility of what our democracy is all about. So you know the city of Chicago, I can tell you this emphatically, we are not going to accept nor are we calling for the occupation of our city by federal troops. In fact no American city is calling for that, and this president obviously has worked to make partisan, nonpartisan institutions,” Johnson added.

The mayor said Trump thrives on division, accusing him of deliberately sowing conflict to weaken communities. Johnson insisted that cities like Chicago would resist such efforts.

“He has demonstrated over and over again that he is not committed to what we know to be true is that our democracy really requires the full participation of every single person. What this president is looking to do is to divide communities, and that’s why we’ve been incredibly firm in Chicago and cities across America that not only are we going to defend our democracy, we’re going to make sure that we protect our humanity as well,” Johnson said.

Earlier in August, Trump sent federal agents and National Guard units into Washington, D.C., resulting in hundreds of arrests, many involving foreign nationals accused of offenses ranging from assault and rape to homicide, drunk driving, and narcotics trafficking. The administration is now preparing to extend those efforts to Chicago and may later focus on New York City.

Chicago residents continue to demand action as violent crime escalates across the city. An Illinois Policy Institute report showed that Chicago logged 28,443 violent crimes in 2024, with aggravated assaults climbing to their highest level in 20 years. While overall violent crime dropped by 1,614 incidents from 2023, the past decade reflects a broader upward trend.

Since taking office in April 2023, Johnson has faced mounting backlash over crime and the city’s handling of the migrant shelter crisis, which cost taxpayers more than $400 million in two years. In late 2024, frustration boiled over at a city council meeting, where Johnson asked police to remove protesters furious over budget changes that funneled additional resources toward migrants.

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