‘Make cities very, very safe’: Trump intensifies federal crackdown; says Chicago, New York next in line

US President Donald Trump on Friday said Chicago and New York would be the next major American cities to see intensified federal action against crime, reported news agency AFP.“We're going to make our cities very, very safe,” Trump told reporters at the White House.

“I think Chicago will be our next and then we'll help with New York.”The remarks signal Trump’s continued focus on law-and-order issues as part of his broader national agenda. While specifics of the proposed federal intervention were not disclosed, the comments indicate an expansion of federal involvement in urban crime control.The comments come days after Trump deployed national guard personnel to Washington DC, citing a need to respond to what he called rising lawlessness and violent crime.

The move drew criticism from local officials, who said the action was politically motivated and raised concerns over federal overreach into local law enforcement matters.The deployment in DC was part of what Trump has framed as a broader "law-and-order" agenda heading into the 2026 midterm campaign cycle. Officials in the administration argue that federal intervention is necessary in cities struggling to contain violent crime, especially where local leadership is perceived as ineffective.Critics say such moves risk further politicising urban policing and federal law enforcement deployment, while supporters argue they are needed to ensure public safety in key metropolitan areas.