Camilla Jessen
A digitally altered image, a dark movie reference, and a vow to deploy troops have ignited fierce criticism of President Trump.
An AI-generated war scene featuring Donald Trump has sparked national outrage, after the president used it to signal a possible military deployment to Chicago.
“Most Dangerous City in the World”
President Donald Trump last week labeled Chicago “the most dangerous city in the world” and announced plans to send federal forces to the city — as well as to Baltimore — citing a wave of recent gun violence.
“This isn’t about politics, it’s about obligation,” Trump said during a press conference.
“When 20 people have been killed in the last two and a half weeks and 75 more shot, I have a duty to act.”
AI Image Channels Vietnam War Movie
Over the weekend, Trump upped the ante with an AI-generated image posted to his Truth Social account.
Styled after the Vietnam War film Apocalypse Now, the image depicts Trump as Lieutenant Colonel Bill Kilgore sitting on a burning beach while helicopters fly overhead and the Chicago skyline burns in the background.
Across the image, it read: “Chipocalypse Now.”
“I Love the Smell of Deportations in the Morning…”
Trump accompanied the image with a direct message to Chicago’s leaders, writing, “Chicago about to find out why it’s called the Department of WAR.”
“I love the smell of deportations in the morning…” he added, referencing the movie.
Department of War
The president has recently signed an executive order renaming the U.S. Department of Defense to the “Department of War”, arguing it sends a stronger signal to adversaries and reflects America’s offensive strength.
“We won WWI and WWII not with a Department of Defense, but with a War Department,” said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
“We’re not just defense — we’re offense.”
“This Is Not a Joke. This Is Not Normal”
Trump’s AI post drew immediate condemnation from state and local officials.
“The President of the United States is threatening to go to war with an American city. This is not a joke. This is not normal. Donald Trump isn’t a strongman, he’s a scared man. Illinois won’t be intimidated by a wannabe dictator,” Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker wrote on X.
“Protect Chicago from Donald Trump”
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson also took to social media in response to the President’s threats.
“The President’s threats are beneath the honor of our nation… He wants to occupy our city and break our Constitution,” Johnson wrote on X.
The mayor also urged residents to “protect each other and protect Chicago from Donald Trump.”
“We’re Not Going to War”
Later, Trump attempted to clarify his statements.
“We’re not going to war. We’re going to clean up our cities,” he wrote.
He argued the real target is violent crime and that only criminals “will be hurt.”
“We’re going to clear them up so they don’t kill every five people every weekend. That’s not war. That’s common sense,” he added.
“Please President Trump, Come to Chicago”
Trump insisted that Chicagoans support his plans.
“The people of Chicago… are screaming for us to come,” he claimed. “African-American ladies, beautiful ladies, are saying, ‘Please President Trump, come to Chicago, please.’”
“I did great with the Black vote, as you know,” he added. “They want something to happen… So I think Chicago will be our next, then we’re gonna help with New York.”
Governor Pritzker rejected that assertion, pointing to the absence of any declared emergency and reiterating that no justification exists for military deployment in the state.
Crime in Chicago: Numbers Show Decline
Despite Trump’s warnings, recent crime statistics tell a different story.
As of early September, 278 homicides have been recorded in Chicago—down from last year’s figures.
According to The Guardian, the homicide rate stands at approximately 15 per 100,000 residents, ranking the city 37th nationwide among cities with over 50,000 people.
Experts expect that number to fall further as crime continues to decline.
Social Media Reaction: “Coward,” “Dictator,” “Nasty”
Trump’s post triggered a firestorm on social media.
“He’s a coward who is trying to act tough by violating the citizens’ civil rights,” one user wrote.
Another commented: “Common sense would be working with the cities, not invading them.”
Critics Say Trump’s Tactics Are Authoritarian
Others accused Trump of resorting to authoritarian tactics.
“This is how dictators operate. Threatening to send troops into cities where he’s unpopular,” one critiqued.
And one final jab echoed a common refrain from Trump’s critics:
“What a tiny fragile pig he is.”
