Trump threatens Chicago deployment; South Korea summit underway

President Trump has threatened to deploy National Guard troops to Chicago, mirroring the federal military presence he has already established in Washington, D.C. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson flatly rejected the proposal last week, calling it illegal, unwarranted, and poorly coordinated. Johnson pointed to city crime statistics showing measurable declines over the past year—fewer homicides, robberies, and shootings—to argue that the deployment was neither necessary nor justified.

The president's remarks about Chicago came on Friday but were not framed as a formal policy announcement. Still, they signaled that the city had moved to the top of his list of potential targets for federal intervention. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has also opposed the idea, characterizing Trump's approach as "a trial run for a police state." The language reflects growing concern among state officials that what is happening in the nation's capital may be a template for expansion elsewhere. Since Trump federalized Washington two weeks ago, the White House has reported hundreds of arrests. A substantial portion of those arrests have been immigration-related enforcement actions, suggesting the scope of federal activity extends well beyond traditional public safety concerns.

Today, Trump is meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung in Washington for a summit that will test the durability of a decades-long alliance. The two nations face fundamental disagreements about military strategy and the terms of a trade arrangement. South Korea has resisted American pressure to redirect its military focus away from North Korea and toward countering China—a shift Seoul views as strategically risky and politically difficult. The countries are also expected to finalize details of a trade deal negotiated last month, though significant disputes remain unresolved.

The trade arrangement hinges on South Korea's willingness to reduce tariffs on its exports to the United States from 25 percent to 15 percent. In exchange, South Korea has committed to a $350 billion investment in the American economy. Trump has claimed the United States will capture 90 percent of the profits from this arrangement. South Korea disputes that characterization, noting that most of the committed funds will take the form of loans rather than direct capital investment. The distinction matters enormously—loans must be repaid and generate interest, while direct investment represents a permanent transfer of capital. South Korea has indicated it may show flexibility on some military matters beyond the North Korea question, but officials have made clear the country will not be drawn into a confrontation with China.

In separate developments, the FBI conducted searches on Friday of the home and office of John Bolton, Trump's former national security adviser. Bolton served in that role for just over a year during Trump's first term and has since become a prominent critic of the president. The Justice Department has indicated the investigation concerns classified documents. Trump said he was unaware the search was taking place. On the same day, the Justice Department released interview transcripts involving Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted of helping Jeffrey Epstein recruit and exploit young girls. Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence. In her interview with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche last month, Maxwell spoke favorably of Trump and stated she never witnessed Trump or several other prominent men in Epstein's company. Maxwell is reportedly interested in seeking clemency—either a sentence reduction or a full pardon—something only the president can grant. Trump has promised during his campaign to pursue vengeance against perceived political enemies, though the connection between these various actions remains unclear and contested.