NEW: Chicago Mayor Accused Of Inciting Insurrection In Response To Federal Surge

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is being accused of inciting an “insurrection” against the United States following a Labor Day rally in which he called on citizens to “defend” the city against President Donald Trump’s planned federal surge.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed over the weekend that a “massive” immigration enforcement operation will be beginning in the Windy City as early as this week. Details of the operation remain unclear, though the president has not ruled out deploying National Guard and other military personnel in order to assist with deportation operations and deter crime in the city.

“I won’t disclose the details, because they are law enforcement and investigative folks that are on the ground there, and I wanna make sure we keep their security our number one priority. But we will continue to go after the worst of the worst across the country, like President Trump has told us to do, focusing on those that are perpetuating murder and rape trafficking of drugs and humans across our country, knowing that every single citizen deserves to be safe,” Noem told CBS News on Sunday.

Mayor Johnson has consistently railed against the Trump Administration’s efforts and has issued multiple orders to city agencies directing them not to cooperate with the federal government. “And so, you know, look, we’re going to remain firm. We’ll take legal action. But the people of this city are accustomed to rising up against tyranny,” the mayor told MSNBC’s Jonathan Capehart last week. 

“And if that’s necessary, I believe that the people of Chicago will stand firm alongside of me as I work every single day to protect the people of this city.”

On Monday, the mayor escalated his rhetoric in what many are interpreting as a deliberate attempt to incite an insurrection. “Are you prepared to defend this land? This land that was built by slaves, a land that was built by indigenous people, a land that is built by workers. Are you prepared to defend this land?” Johnson ranted.

“The people united will always prevail. I need you all to stand firm, to stand strong. If this president decides to continue to break this constitution.”

Daily Wire contributor Matt Walsh described Johnon’s statement’s as “treason.”

“This is treason. Brandon Johnson should be arrested, charged, convicted, and then given the requisite punishment for a capital offense,” Walsh posted on X. “Chicago was not in any sense built by ‘slaves and indigenous people,'” he added.

Johnson’s efforts to “stop” the Trump Administration will likely be in vain. California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit against the federal government aiming to stop the president’s federal takeover of the state’s National Guard earlier this year. That effort ultimately proved unsuccessful after a federal appeals court ruled that the president does indeed have the power to deploy National Guard personnel in order to quell the unrest that gripped Los Angeles for several days.

It is also unclear who will be “rising up” alongside Johnson, as the mayor currently enjoys a historically low approval rating of just 26 percent.