''Chipocalypse Now'' Trump Threatens Chicago with Mass Deportations and "Department of War" in Provocative Social Media Post

President Donald Trump posted an AI-generated image on Truth Social, seemingly confirming that ICE operations would begin in Chicago on Saturday (@realDonaldTrump/Truth Social)

September 6, 2025 – President Donald Trump escalated tensions with a fiery Truth Social post on Saturday, appearing to threaten Chicago with mass deportations and referencing a newly rebranded "Department of War." The provocative message, accompanied by an AI-generated image of Trump in military attire against a burning Chicago skyline with helicopters overhead, has sparked fierce backlash from Illinois officials and heightened fears of an impending federal crackdown.

The post, timestamped at 10:38 a.m., paraphrased a famous line from the 1979 film Apocalypse Now, stating, “‘I love the smell of deportations in the morning…’ Chicago about to find out why it’s called the Department of WAR.” The image, emblazoned with the phrase “Chipocalypse Now,” referenced Trump’s recent executive order renaming the Department of Defense as the Department of War, a move he claimed signals a “message of strength.”

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, a Democrat, swiftly condemned the post, calling Trump a “wannabe dictator” and describing the threat to “go to war” with an American city as “not normal.” “The President of the United States is threatening to go to war with an American city. This is not a joke. Illinois won’t be intimidated,” Pritzker wrote on X. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson echoed this sentiment, accusing Trump of authoritarianism and vowing to “defend our democracy” by protecting Chicagoans from federal overreach.

The post comes amid reports that the Trump administration is preparing to deploy hundreds of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to Chicago, potentially as early as this weekend, to execute mass deportations targeting undocumented immigrants. The operation, which may involve federal agencies like the FBI, DEA, and ATF, is expected to use the Naval Station Great Lakes as a logistical hub. Sources indicate ICE has requested significant resources, including thousands of handcuffs, leg irons, and buses, to carry out the raids.

Trump’s rhetoric aligns with his campaign promise to oversee the “largest deportation program in history,” with Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York identified as key targets due to their Democratic leadership and sanctuary city policies. Chicago, home to an estimated 150,000 undocumented immigrants, has some of the nation’s strongest sanctuary protections, limiting local police cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

Democratic leaders, including U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, have decried Trump’s threats as “disgusting” and “reckless.” Durbin, speaking at Mexican Independence Day celebrations, called the post an embarrassment, while Mayor Johnson warned that Trump’s actions risk “breaking our Constitution.” Community advocates, bracing for raids, have canceled events like the El Grito Chicago festival and are advising immigrants of their rights, including remaining silent and refusing entry to ICE agents without warrants.

Critics argue that Trump’s aggressive language and imagery, evoking war and destruction, dangerously escalate tensions and blur the line between civil and military authority. Legal experts question whether Trump has the authority to deploy National Guard troops to Chicago over state objections, with Pritzker vowing to fight any such move in court.

The White House and ICE have not responded to requests for comment, but Trump’s post follows his recent deployment of federal forces to Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles, citing crime as justification despite data showing declining violent crime rates in these cities. In Chicago, officials point to WBEZ research indicating the city recorded its fewest homicides since 1965 this summer.

As Chicago prepares for potential ICE operations coinciding with Mexican Independence Day celebrations, protests are growing, with hundreds vowing to demonstrate downtown. Metal barricades have been erected around the federal courthouse, and advocates are organizing phone trees to alert communities of ICE activity. The city remains on edge, with residents like Wanda Williams of Garfield Park expressing mixed sentiments about crime and immigration enforcement.

Trump’s provocative post has reignited debates over immigration policy, federal overreach, and the militarization of domestic enforcement, setting the stage for a contentious showdown in Chicago.