You’ve got to love the irony. While President Donald Trump is busy cleaning up America’s cities with real action — targeting illegal migrants and cracking down on violent crime — Chicago’s Democratic Mayor Brandon Johnson is signing an executive order to make sure protestors feel extra safe when they flood the streets. Because if there’s one thing Chicago really needs right now, it’s more protests.
On Tuesday, Johnson signed what he calls a “Right to Protest” order, directing the Chicago Police Department to work hand-in-hand with activists to “protect” demonstrations — even if federal agencies step in. Translation: if ICE or federal law enforcement try to restore law and order, the city is basically telling the mob, “Don’t worry, we’ve got your back.”
Johnson couldn’t help himself, wrapping his order in the usual lofty rhetoric: “Chicago has long been a center of civic action, from the labor uprisings of the Haymarket era to the Civil Rights movement.” Nice history lesson, but here’s the reality: Chicago recorded 28,443 violent crimes in 2024, with aggravated assaults hitting a 20-year high. Residents aren’t crying out for “civic action” — they’re begging for safety.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has rolled out “Operation Midway Blitz,” targeting sanctuary cities like Chicago and taking on illegal migrants shielded by reckless policies. In Washington, D.C., earlier this year, Trump deployed federal agents and the National Guard — resulting in hundreds of arrests, including foreign nationals tied to crimes like assault, rape, homicide, drug trafficking, and drunk driving. That’s called results. And it’s the same kind of results Chicago desperately needs.
But instead of focusing on protecting law-abiding citizens, Johnson’s new order actually forces the CPD to work with organizers if federal agencies “interfere” with protests. That’s right — more red tape for cops, more power for agitators, and fewer tools for law enforcement to restore order when things inevitably spiral out of control.
Here’s the bottom line: Trump is trying to make cities like Chicago safer, while Democratic mayors are more worried about protest optics than protecting their people. But there’s good news — Chicagoans know the truth. They see crime rising, they see their leaders failing, and they see a president who isn’t afraid to act. And that, more than any executive order, is where real hope lies.
