National Guard Deployed to Safeguard Federal Sites in Chicago Region, Official Confirms
Welcome to the US politics live update. I’m Tom Ambrose, here to provide you with the latest developments throughout the day.
We begin with the report that a contingent of National Guard soldiers has commenced operations to secure federal properties in the Chicago vicinity and support law enforcement efforts in Memphis as of Wednesday, according to official sources.
A unit comprising 200 Texas National Guard members is currently active in the Chicago area, a representative from the US Northern Command disclosed to the Associated Press under anonymity to protect sensitive operational information.
The mission involves protecting facilities belonging to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) along with other federal buildings and personnel, as stated by Northern Command on their official channels.
These troops, combined with approximately 300 Illinois National Guard members, arrived on Tuesday at a US Army Reserve Center located in Elwood, roughly 55 miles southwest of Chicago. All 500 personnel fall under Northern Command’s jurisdiction and have been mobilized for a 60-day period. Details regarding their armament remain undisclosed at this time.
This deployment coincides with former President Donald Trump’s public demand on Wednesday for the incarceration of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, accusing them of neglecting the protection of ICE officers.
“The Mayor of Chicago should be jailed for failing to safeguard ICE officers!” Trump declared on Truth Social Wednesday morning. “Governor Pritzker as well!”
Both Johnson and Pritzker are members of the Democratic Party. Trump’s statements come amid the arrival of National Guard troops in Chicago, an action initiated by his administration despite resistance from state officials including the governor and mayor.
For a comprehensive overview, see the full article here:
Trump calls for jailing of Chicago mayor and Illinois governor as National Guard arrives in city
Additional Updates:
- Donald Trump announced a preliminary agreement between Hamas and Israel aimed at ceasing hostilities in Gaza and facilitating the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian detainees.
- The tentative Gaza accord received acclaim from Republican legislators, some advocating for Trump to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, while Palestinian American communities expressed cautious skepticism.
- At a White House event, Trump appeared unfamiliar with the legal term ‘Habeas Corpus’ and deferred to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who previously provided an inaccurate explanation of this fundamental legal safeguard requiring public justification for detentions.
- All witnesses at the White House “antifa roundtable” were self-identified independent journalists, many of whom function more as partisan conservative social media commentators than impartial reporters, often framing left-wing protests through a politically charged lens.
- Senate Republicans rejected a war powers resolution intended to limit Trump’s authority to deploy lethal military force against suspected narcotics traffickers, following Democratic efforts to challenge the administration’s extensive use of military assets to intercept vessels in the Caribbean.
- During the same “antifa roundtable,” at least one participant echoed Trump’s unfounded claim that numerous individuals have been killed by left-wing radicals in Portland, Oregon; however, official records confirm only one fatality linked to self-described “antifa” activists in that city.
Upcoming Events and Context
Later today at 11am EST, President Donald Trump will convene a cabinet meeting at the White House, where further details on the initial phase of the peace initiative and reactions to the National Guard deployment in Chicago are expected.
Trump’s previous cabinet session extended beyond three hours, indicating a potentially lengthy discussion ahead.
Additionally, Finland’s Prime Minister Alexander Stubb is scheduled to visit the White House, with live updates to follow.
Meanwhile, federal courts across the nation will hold hearings to determine the legality of the National Guard’s continued presence in both Portland and Chicago.
Political Movements in Pennsylvania
Republicans in Pennsylvania are reigniting efforts to unseat Congressman Scott Perry, a staunch Trump supporter representing the 10th congressional district, according to insider information shared with the Guardian.
The group “Republicans Against Perry” (RAP), which initially formed in late 2023 to back Democrat Janelle Stelson-who narrowly lost the 2024 election by under two percentage points-is relaunching its grassroots campaign with digital billboards across the district.
Given the slim Republican majority in the House, Perry’s seat is considered highly competitive for the 2026 midterms, with Politics PA labeling it the most vulnerable Republican-held district.
Although RAP is supported by WelcomePac, a Democratic-leaning political action committee, it has yet to endorse a specific challenger. Craig Snyder, a Republican organizer leading the campaign, stated, “Our primary goal is to defeat Scott Perry. If that doesn’t happen in the primary, we will likely back the Democratic nominee.”
Stelson, a former local news anchor, has announced her intention to run again, while Karen Dalton, a former Republican staff attorney in the Pennsylvania state legislature, has launched a primary challenge against Perry.
Perry, a four-term incumbent and former chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, has been a vocal proponent of the false claim that the 2020 presidential election was stolen. Notably, he introduced Trump to Jeffrey Clark, a Justice Department official who sought to overturn the election results, and advocated for Clark’s appointment as acting attorney general in the lead-up to the January 6 Capitol attack.
For more details, visit: Pennsylvania Republicans reignite bid to unseat MAGA congressman
Brazilian-US Trade Talks
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva revealed on Thursday that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio contacted Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira following a conversation between Lula and President Trump regarding tariffs.
In an interview with Piata FM, a local radio station, Lula expressed surprise at the outcome of his discussion with Trump, during which he requested the elimination of tariffs on Brazilian exports to the United States.
National Guard Presence in Chicago Amid Legal Challenges
Hundreds of National Guard soldiers remain stationed in the Chicago area as local and state officials await a judicial ruling on the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement deployment in the nation’s third-largest city.
The exact locations where the troops will be assigned remain unclear. The army training facility southwest of Chicago has been fortified with additional fencing and tarps to obscure public view as of Wednesday night.
Emergency Disaster Services trucks have been observed delivering portable restrooms and supplies, with trailers arranged in orderly rows.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker expressed frustration over the lack of communication from the federal government regarding troop movements, stating, “I can’t believe I have to discuss ‘troop movements’ within an American city, but that is the reality we face.”
Approximately 500 National Guard members-200 from Texas and 300 from Illinois-have been activated for an initial 60-day period under the US Northern Command, which described the operation as a “federal protection mission.”
For further information, see: National Guard remains in Chicago area as judge to rule on Trump deployment
Homeland Security Secretary Equates Antifa with Terrorist Groups
During a White House roundtable on Wednesday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem equated antifa activists with notorious terrorist organizations such as MS-13, Hamas, Hezbollah, and ISIS, labeling the loosely connected antifascist movement as “equally dangerous.”
Noem stated, “They are as sophisticated and as dangerous as MS-13, TDA, ISIS, Hezbollah, Hamas-just like the terrorists we have confronted for years. Their agenda is to destroy us.”
The event featured right-wing social media figures including Andy Ngo, Nick Sortor, and Katie Daviscourt, who cover left-wing protests with a partisan perspective.
While groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and ISIS are officially designated terrorist organizations with structured hierarchies and histories of mass violence, experts characterize antifa as a decentralized movement lacking formal leadership or membership, primarily engaging in protest activities, some involving property damage and confrontations.
This roundtable follows President Trump’s September executive order designating antifa as a “domestic terrorist organization.”
More on this topic: Kristi Noem compares antifa to MS-13, Hamas, Hezbollah and the Islamic State
Reactions to Gaza Ceasefire Agreement
Republican lawmakers lauded Donald Trump on Wednesday for facilitating a preliminary ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, aimed at ending hostilities in Gaza and securing the release of Israeli hostages, though Palestinian Americans expressed reservations.
Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa hailed Trump as “the peace president,” celebrating the end of the ordeal faced by hostages and honoring those who died in captivity, including Israeli citizens Itay and Omer.
Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno, who previously proposed awarding Trump the Nobel Peace Prize for military actions against Iran’s nuclear facilities, called the announcement “historic” for the US, Israel, and Middle East peace.
Florida Representative Brian Mast, a former civilian volunteer in the Israeli military, praised Trump’s diplomatic breakthrough, emphasizing the need for Hamas to honor the agreement.
For additional coverage, visit: Republican lawmakers praise Trump for Gaza deal as Palestinian Americans remain wary: ‘So much remains unclear’
Trump Celebrates Historic Peace Effort
Donald Trump described the day as “great” for the Arab and Muslim world, Israel, neighboring countries, and the United States.
He expressed gratitude to mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey for their role in achieving this “Historic and Unprecedented Event,” declaring, “BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS!”
Hamas confirmed the agreement includes an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a prisoner exchange involving hostages.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded, “With God’s help, we will bring them all home.”
Read more: ‘First phase’ of ceasefire deal to end war in Gaza agreed by Israel and Hamas
