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Kristi Noem, acting as Donald Trump's top security official, referred to Chicago as "a war zone" on Sunday. This came following government officers shot a woman, and the governor of Illinois claimed the federal government of fueling the situation rather than resolving it.

Noem's Appearance on Fox News

During an appearance on Fox News on Sunday, Noem targeted the city’s mayor, Brandon Johnson. The mayor has been a vocal critic of the federal Ice raids and deployment of the state troops in Illinois, a measure he labeled "irrational and harmful".

"This is incorrect, penalties are necessary for that and for officials that speak out and knowingly lie about the actual conditions," remarked. "Chicago is a war zone and he is dishonest so that criminals can go in there and destroy people’s lives."

Federal Action and The President's Order

These comments came after the president's order to send hundreds of personnel of the Illinois national guard to Chicago, with orders to protect government agents and property. This action occurred just weeks after national guard troops were dispatched to Washington, where the commander-in-chief took control of the local police in what he called a "crackdown" on crime, a strategy now reaching multiple other US cities. "We will address Chicago likely soon," Trump had said previously.

The Secretary's Defense of Government Actions

The governor supported the administration’s course of action, stating on television that locals backed the federal involvement. "Residents know that in areas we've entered we have increased freedom," she remarked. "Safety has improved, we have removed numerous offenders that are no longer roaming of Chicago, simply because we’ve been there."

State Leader Governor Pritzker Responds

Appearing on a CNN program Sunday, the state's Democratic leader, JB Pritzker, claimed the federal government of fueling the problem rather than resolving it. "It is they who are making it a war zone," he stated.

"They need to get out of Chicago. Unless they concentrate on the most dangerous criminals, which is what the president said they are going to do, they need to get the heck out."

Federal Agents Shooting Information

Federal officers on Saturday fired at and wounded a woman while firing at an individual who attempted to hit them. The injured female was a US citizen and was carrying a firearm, a government spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin stated, adding that the woman was alleged in a federal agency intelligence bulletin last week of revealing agents' private information.

Pritzker's Criticism on Social Media

Pritzker also condemned the action in a post on a social media site on Saturday, writing: "The federal Department of War presented a demand: mobilize your forces, or we shall." He labeled the decision "absolutely outrageous and un-American," and noted that it had been made "against our will".