Vice-President JD Vance has confirmed that the White House is considering invoking the Insurrection Act, a move that would allow the deployment of military troops on US soil to quell domestic unrest. In an interview on NBC News's Meet the Press, Vance stated that President Donald Trump is 'looking at all of his options' amid legal challenges blocking the use of federal forces in Democratic-run cities.
The Insurrection Act, signed in 1807, permits the president to deploy military forces domestically in cases of insurrection or rebellion. It was last invoked in 1992 during the Los Angeles riots. Vance cited rising crime as the reason for considering such measures, claiming that 'crime has gotten out of control in our cities'. However, data shows that violent crime has been falling at unprecedented rates in major US cities, including Chicago, over the past two years.
Federal courts have blocked the Trump administration from deploying national guard troops in Oregon and Illinois. On Thursday, a federal judge prohibited the use of federalised national guard personnel in Chicago, stating there was 'no credible evidence' of a rebellion in the state. Vance defended the potential use of the Insurrection Act, arguing that in Chicago, 'people are afraid to take their children … for fear of gun violence, for fear of gang drive-by shootings'.
In a separate interview, Vance suggested that Illinois Governor JB Pritzker should 'suffer consequences' for his opposition to the administration, though he stopped short of accusing him of a crime. Pritzker responded by accusing Vance of a 'tidal wave of lies' and stated, 'I am not afraid. Do I think he could do it? He might. But as I have said before, come and get me.' The tension highlights the escalating conflict between the Trump administration and Democratic-led states over federal authority and public safety.
