President Donald Trump has ordered military deployments to several major American cities, describing the situation as a “war from within.” The cities targeted include Chicago, New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, all controlled by Democratic officials.
Trump characterized the threats in these urban areas as comparable to foreign enemies, noting that they are “more complex because they do not wear uniforms.” He urged the military to use the cities as “training grounds” for federal forces, promising significant federal involvement to address what he described as unsafe conditions and civil disturbances.
The announcement was made during a rare, short-notice meeting of top military leaders at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, convened by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
At the meeting, Hegseth outlined broad reforms for the armed forces, including raising physical fitness standards, ending diversity programs, eliminating politically correct policies, and enforcing stricter discipline. He emphasized merit-based promotions and the faster removal of underperforming officers to restore a “warrior ethos” in the military.
Deployments have already been ordered or carried out in Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Memphis, and Portland. However, legal experts have raised concerns under the Posse Comitatus Act, which limits the use of federal troops for domestic law enforcement.
Democratic leaders have strongly condemned the actions, calling them an attack on their cities and warning of authoritarian overreach. Observers and officials continue to monitor developments closely, raising questions about civil-military relations and the federal use of force in U.S. cities.
