Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries expressed strong disapproval on CNN's "State of the Union" regarding President Donald Trump's recent contemplation of sending National Guard troops to Chicago. This statement comes as the White House demonstrates an increasing tendency to use federal force to combat crime, a move that has stirred significant controversy among Democrats.

Jeffries criticized the president for using federal power as a tool for political distraction. “We should continue to support local law enforcement and not simply allow Donald Trump to play games with the lives of the American people as part of his effort to manufacture a crisis and create a distraction because he's deeply unpopular," Jeffries remarked during the interview with Dana Bash.

The backlash followed Trump’s announcements last Friday, hinting at possible deployments not only to Chicago but also to New York. This development paralleled his decision to federalize Washington D.C.'s police department earlier in August, along with deploying the National Guard there.

Illinois officials were quick to respond. Governor JB Pritzker described the move as "an authoritarian power grab of major cities," in a sharp critique posted on X. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson also took to X, warning that such a deployment "could inflame tensions between residents and law enforcement" and potentially derail the progress made in reducing crime rates in the city.

Democrats argue that Trump’s motivations are suspect, especially given that major cities, including Chicago, have been experiencing a decline in crime rates post-Covid-19 pandemic, contrary to the crises Trump suggests. They see this move as more politically motivated than a genuine concern for public safety.

The use of the National Guard in Washington has been met with mixed reactions. Last week, troops were authorized to carry service-issue weapons, and several Republican states have contributed additional National Guard members to support the capital’s deployment, which Trump indicated would continue "for a while." This is in stark contrast to local public opinion, with nearly 80 percent of D.C. residents opposing the militarization according to recent polls.

Jeffries also refuted claims that Democratic opposition to the National Guard deployments reflects a lack of commitment to law and order. He emphasized that Democrats are committed to safer communities and the continuation of the downward trend in crime rates in cities like Chicago, New York, and Washington, D.C. “We want to continue to make sure that crime can go down as it's doing in these places. And to do that, we should support local law enforcement. We should make sure that the flood of guns into these communities is cut off,” Jeffries concluded.