1. United States
2. Mass.
3. Letter

Donald Trump has crossed a constitutional red line. By threatening to unleash federal immigration raids, militarized crackdowns, and what he himself calls a “Department of WAR” against Chicago, he is not merely using inflammatory rhetoric—he is levying war against an American city. The Constitution defines this as an act of treason. Trump’s “Chipocalypse Now” post, accompanied by an image evoking Apocalypse Now, was not satire or bluster. It was a declaration of intent to use the power of the federal government against U.S. citizens and local governments who defy him. This is authoritarianism, plain and simple. The threat is also baseless. Crime in Chicago has been dropping sharply, with homicides down nearly 30% and shootings down over 40%. There is no emergency that could justify such an extraordinary federal assault. Local leaders have resisted: Governor J.B. Pritzker labeled Trump a “wannabe dictator,” and Mayor Brandon Johnson has barred city agencies from assisting with raids. Thousands of Chicagoans have protested in defiance, even as community events were canceled under pressure. Congress cannot treat this as political theater. The stakes are constitutional and historic. When a president declares war on his own people, silence is complicity. I urge you to: • Hold hearings immediately to expose Trump’s threats as unconstitutional and potentially treasonous. • Legislate strict limits on the use of federal forces and immigration agencies in domestic political disputes. • Protect sanctuary jurisdictions from federal overreach and retaliation. • Affirm the principle that no president can wield war powers against the states or their people. This is bigger than Chicago. If Trump succeeds here, every city, every state, and every community is at risk. Congress must act now to defend the Constitution, protect American democracy, and stop Trump from levying war against his own country.