The National Guard Has Been Activated to Chicago 18 Times from 1877-2021. Here’s a Breakdown.
Published August 28, 2025 at 5:47pm ET
If President Donald Trump follows through on his threat to send National Guard troops to Chicago — over the objections of Gov. JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson — then it would be unprecedented.
“In Illinois, we are not aware of the state’s National Guard forces ever being federalized for an in-state response without the Governor’s request and concurrence,” wrote Illinois National Guard public affairs officer Lt. Col. Bradford Leighton in an email to the Tribune.
Trump threatened in a tweet in January 2017 to “send in the Feds!” in response to violence in Chicago. Ultimately, he didn’t.
A review of the Tribune’s archives produced 18 events in which the governor activated the National Guard within Chicago. Two of them — both during the 19th century — involved a sitting U.S. president who acted in coordination with the governor.
https://www.military.com/daily-news/2025/08/28/national-guard-has-been-activated-chicago-18-times-1877-2021-heres-breakdown.html
