Trump Forced to Withdraw Troops from Major US Cities Amid Legal Blows

US President Donald Trump has announced the withdrawal of federal troops from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland following a series of significant legal setbacks. Despite the retreat, Trump warned that the military could return in a “stronger and different form” if crime rates rise again.

The President’s Stance: Taking to social media, Trump attributed the recent decline in urban crime solely to the presence of federal forces. “We are leaving only because our patriotic soldiers have lowered the crime rates. If violence spikes, we will return with even greater force,” he wrote.

Legal and Political Resistance: The withdrawal is not purely voluntary; it follows intense legal challenges from local leaders and court rulings. The Supreme Court recently blocked troop deployment in Illinois, while a Federal Appeals Court on Wednesday ordered that troops in California be returned to the control of Governor Gavin Newsom.

Conflicting Claims on Crime: Governor Newsom’s office and other local officials dismissed Trump’s narrative as a “political stunt.” They argue that the withdrawal is a mandatory legal obligation, not a presidential choice. Furthermore, Chicago authorities reported that violent crime had already dropped by 21.3% in 2025—the lowest in a decade—suggesting that the decline began long before the June troop deployment.