In a striking social media post, Donald Trump portrayed himself in a war setting over a burning Chicago, declaring that the city will experience the “Department of WAR.” The AI-generated image evoked Apocalypse Now, with helicopters and flames, and included a twisted movie quote about the “smell of deportations in the morning.”
This post aligns with Trump’s executive order renaming the Department of Defense to Department of War and his promises to send military forces to tackle violence in Chicago, Baltimore, and other cities.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago’s Mayor condemned the post and plans, warning that Trump is threatening democratic norms and using scare tactics on American cities. Protests and strong opposition followed immediately.
Though Trump termed the post tongue-in-cheek and focused on cleaning crime scenes, plans to deploy National Guard troops are advancing, heightening local fears.
