Post Reports: “Inside Trump’s plans to send troops into more American cities”

Date: August 25, 2025
Host: Cole Bjerkowitz
Guest: Dan Lamoth, Military Reporter for The Washington Post

Episode Overview

This episode of Post Reports breaks an exclusive story about President Donald Trump’s plans to deploy National Guard troops into additional American cities, with Chicago being the next likely target. Military reporter Dan Lamoth details how these plans have been in the works for weeks, explains the legal and political context, and describes what these deployments looked like in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. The episode explores the implications for local governance, the perspective of service members, and the broader debate about federal intervention in Democratic-run cities.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Why Chicago?

• President Trump has for years framed military intervention as a solution for “carnage” and crime in American cities, especially those led by Democrats.
• Trump publicly named Chicago as the “next city” after deployments to D.C. and L.A. (03:32).
• Dan Lamoth notes Trump’s “fixation” on crime in such cities is a recurring theme in his rhetoric and decision-making:

  "President Trump for years has seen the military as a solution to a lot of problems that other people don't." (02:25, Dan Lamoth)

Planning and Confirmation of Troop Deployments

• Military planning has been underway for weeks; the Pentagon developed multiple options for deploying troops.
• Potential plans include deploying several thousand National Guard soldiers—likely three to five thousand (04:43).
• Lamoth’s sources confirmed these were real, ongoing discussions even before Trump’s recent public comments.
• Actual orders had not yet been issued as of the interview.

Legal Frameworks and Challenges

• Normal deployment of National Guard troops occurs under state authority, but Illinois’s governor opposes any such move.
• The likely scenario is a Title 10 federal deployment, which limits legal authority and would likely “very quickly be contested in court” (06:57, Dan Lamoth).
• Precedent for this exists: L.A.’s deployment occurred despite opposition from state government, using Title 10 (05:54).

Purpose and Function of Deployments

• Officially, deployments are for protecting federal property and supporting ICE operations—not general law enforcement. In L.A., troops provided cordons during ICE raids (12:14).
• Trump frames the rationale as “cleaning up” cities—but local officials object that crime rates are already declining post-pandemic (08:23).

Local and Political Reaction

• Chicago’s Mayor and Illinois’ Governor both strongly oppose the plan, viewing it as unconstitutional and unwelcome:

  “The city of Chicago does not need a military occupation. This is clearly a violation of the Constitution.” (08:23, paraphrasing Chicago officials)

• Critics argue Trump is targeting Democratic-led cities—Los Angeles, Chicago, D.C.—for political reasons (16:27).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the President’s Mindset:

  "He's still kind of fixated on the idea." (09:40, Dan Lamoth)

• On Legality:

  “That would play out roughly in line with what we saw in Los Angeles where they federalized the California National Guard, even though Governor Newsom didn't want that to happen.” (04:43, Dan Lamoth)

• On How Troops Are Used:

  “It gave you the imagery, it gave you the uniforms on the street, but the actual, like, what can they legally do?... Their role in dispersing crowds has been minimal.” (11:22 and 12:14, Dan Lamoth)

• On Service Members’ Experience:

  “It's a tough spot to be in if you're that 22-year-old sergeant... They're not trying to invade anybody.” (13:32, Dan Lamoth) “Some of these folks are excited by the mission, see value in the mission... Some people have misgivings... there's at least, you know, in the little more quiet conversations... people who struggle with this idea, too.” (15:13, Dan Lamoth)

• On Financial Cost:

  “This is not cheap... What's a hotel cost in this area? $150 a night. Conservatively. Multiply that by multiple weeks and multiple hundreds of guardsmen and you kind of get the sense that this will add up fast.” (14:35, Dan Lamoth)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:25] Why is Trump targeting Chicago?
• [03:32] Confirmation that military is actively planning multi-city deployments
• [04:43] What troop deployment in Chicago could look like
• [05:54] Legal hurdles and possible court battles
• [08:23] Local political backlash and context on crime rates
• [11:22] What deployments looked like in L.A. and D.C.
• [13:32] The experience and morale of service members
• [14:35] Discussion of financial cost
• [15:13] Mixed reactions among troops
• [16:27] The pattern of Democratic-led cities being targeted
• [17:50] How soon could a Chicago deployment occur and concerns about escalation

Additional Context

• Deployment to Other Cities: Trump has named Oakland and New York as potential future locations. Other large liberal cities are considered likely targets.
• Precedent: Unlike the 1992 L.A. riots, current plans do not follow local calls for help, making the situation far more contentious (15:57).

Conclusion

The episode provides a deep, nuanced look at the Trump administration’s growing willingness to override state and local authority with military force in cities, the ongoing legal and political challenges, and the unintended consequences for public perception and service members deployed on home soil. The reporting underscores significant tension between federal power and local resistance, with real uncertainty about how the situation in Chicago and elsewhere will unfold.