Why is Barack Obama warning about Trump’s use of the military in domestic affairs?
Former President Barack Obama has raised fresh concerns about the Trump administration’s growing reliance on the U.S. military for domestic operations, warning that it poses a serious risk to civil liberties and due process.
On Thursday, Obama posted on X:
"The erosion of basic principles like due process and the expanding use of our military on domestic soil puts the liberties of all Americans at risk and should concern Democrats and Republicans alike."
His remarks come after the Department of Homeland Security asked Naval Station Great Lakes, located north of Chicago, to provide logistical support for potential immigration crackdowns. The request reportedly included the use of facilities and infrastructure but not direct combat troops.
This development follows President Donald Trump’s recent deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., as part of his broader push to address crime, homelessness, and immigration.
Pushback in Illinois
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson—both Democrats—have vowed to resist any troop mobilization in Chicago, saying the city neither needs nor wants federal forces.
Pritzker argued that Trump’s plan could actually make things worse:
"What he’s trying to do is inflame something that will cause a problem that he can then point at," he told the Associated Press.
Mayor Johnson’s office also released updated crime statistics showing a different picture than Trump’s claims: homicides are down by over 32% this year and overall violent crime has dropped by more than 21%.
Trump’s Response
Trump has repeatedly blasted Chicago’s Democratic leadership over crime, writing on Truth Social:
"Governor Pritzker had 6 murders in Chicago this weekend. 20 people were shot. But he doesn’t want to ask me for help. The people are desperate for me to STOP THE CRIME."
Obama’s Broader Warning
Alongside his post, Obama shared an episode of The Ezra Klein Show podcast featuring journalist Radley Balko, which examines the federalization and militarization of local policing—a trend that Obama argues undermines democratic freedoms.
What’s Next?
So far, the Illinois National Guard has not received any orders related to mobilization in Chicago, and Naval Station Great Lakes has confirmed no final decisions have been made on the DHS request.
The situation remains fluid, but Obama’s intervention highlights how debates over public safety, immigration, and federal power are once again at the center of America’s political divide.
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