September 9, 2025 • 7 mins
Jon Decker joins Mendte in the Morning to talk about Trump doubling down on his plans to send the National Guard into Chicago and the possibility of it actually happening.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Let's get to John Decker, w R. White House and
Washington correspondent and host of the new podcast The White
House Briefing Room with John Decker, which can be found
on the iHeartRadio app John's with Us every Tuesday and Thursday.
At this time, Hey, John, how was it over the weekend?
Did you go to the US Open?
Speaker 2 (00:18):
I was there. President Trump was there, absolutely. I was
there for both the semis, the championship for the women
and the men's championship on Sunday. It was a great
US Open over the course of more than two weeks,
this time when you factor in the mixed doubles play
that took place just before the official tournament got underway.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
I know I saw it. I remember last year you
went to the US Open. Do you go every year?
Speaker 2 (00:45):
This was my thirtieth year at the US Open, and
I love it. It's one of my favorite places. And
you know, I do some reporting there actually too, so
it's really terrific to be there. It's my favorite sport
and and this year was not disappointing in any way
in terms of who ended up in the championship for
(01:06):
both the men and the women.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
You must be pulling in a healthy salary to afford
that food. What did you get while you were there?
Speaker 2 (01:15):
You know, every day was something different. You know, they
really have great fare out there. I think one day
we did lobster roles. Another day we just did you know,
smash burgers. Really depending upon what you're feeling on any
particular day. But you're right, it is pricey out there,
for sure. I think it's probably the most expensive. I mean,
(01:36):
you tell me, I haven't been to a Jets or
Giants game, but it's pretty expensive out there for sure.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
No, it's way more expensive. They don't have lobster roll
at the Jets and the Giants game. By the way,
most of the lobster rolls.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
Cost I think that was in the neighborhood of thirty
five dollars.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
Yeah, actually they're thirty five dollars. We're being told. I'm
being told in my ear it's forty dollars.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
Okay, I sit in the neighborhood. You might want the chief,
right rules I would have done.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
Okay, you might have got the chief ones.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Yeah, I got the Chief ones. That's right.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
So let's talk about the National Guard, I mean Donald
And by the way, that's great that you were in town.
It's great. We were not going to hold it against you.
You didn't stop by, But that's fine, that's fine. I'm
glad you enjoyed. I'm glad you enjoyed the test. You're
absolutely welling. All right, now, let's talk about Donald Trump
seems hell bent on sending the National Guard to Chicago.
(02:29):
What would be the pretext to that.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Well, I think one of the areas of pretext is
essentially dereliction of duty on the part of the governor
of Illinois JB. Pritzker. Oh, why do I say that,
because of the increase, the substantial increase in crime statistics
that we're seeing in the city of Chicago. Over the
Labor Day weekend, you had fifty eight shootings. That's just
(02:54):
unheard of even in third world countries. You had eight murders.
That's over the course of just one weekend. And that
was the third weekend in the row in which you
had these large numbers of shootings happening in the city
of Chicago. So, to me, that would be a pretext
for the president. If the governor is not going to
do something to crack down on crime, the president, as
(03:17):
commander in chief, could do something like that. And I
think that's what he's really weighing. He has indicated that
it could be in the next two days or so
that he could dispatch the National Guard to the city
of Chicago, and he already has a blueprint, and that's
the city of Washington, d C. The blueprint is move
the National Guard in and see the crime rate go
(03:39):
down precipitously.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
Well, Pritzer says he's going to sue immediately and he's
going to try to get an emergency ruling in court
viewer a constitutional authority. What does the constitution back him
up on this action?
Speaker 2 (03:55):
Well, it depends what the National Guard is used for.
If the National Guard is being sent in as far
as law enforcement is concerned, that's a problematic area as
far as the president's action is concerned. But if they're
being sent in to protect federal buildings, if they're being
sent in to do work which could augment what the
(04:16):
Metropolitan Police Force in Chicago is doing, that's a different
story entirely. And you know, I think it's really up
to the President as to whether or not he wants
to do in Chicago what he says has happened right
here in Washington, d C. The crime rate here in
d C. Larry has gone down. It has gone down
(04:37):
since the National Guard was put on the streets of Washington,
d C. And that's for every type of crime you
can think of.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
Yeah, to me, it is just crazy that you wouldn't
want federal resources, that you wouldn't want federal hell, that
you wouldn't want people coming in. And I really do
believe they just don't want to do business with Donald
Trump because it would be political suicide when you're a Democrat.
I had heard that he wanted to send the National Guarden,
or at least he was talking to send about sending
(05:06):
the National Guard in to protect ice officers because and
he was saying for a few days and Tom Holman
was out and Christy Noman was out talking about the
increase on assaults on ice officers, and it sounded like
that was building to the fact that he wanted to
send the National Guard not only to protect federal property,
(05:26):
but to protect ice officers, which would put them in
the streets in some of the crime ridden areas.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Have you heard that, Well, that could be a pretext
as well. I have not heard that specifically, but you know,
when President Trump speaks of this issue, and I imagine
he'll speak of this issue later in the afternoon. I'll
be in the pool. I'll be in the Oval Office
for in the afternoon today for a proclamation, and so
hopefully I'll get an opportunity to ask a few questions
(05:54):
of the President. But you know, I think that one
of the things that President has been mentioning in recent
day is this idea that this is a very good
and he afraid about this Larry, a very good political
issue for Republicans as they look ahead to the midterm
elections next year. You know, to be who isn't for
(06:14):
bringing down crime in any community, and you know, it
doesn't matter what your political stripes are, whether you're a
Democrat or Republican or an independent. You want to be
able to live in a safe environment.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
Yeah. I think that many of the Democratic consultants, including
James Carvill, are out in front saying that the Democrats
shouldn't fall for this again, that he pushes the politically.
He pushes the Democrats onto the wrong side of the
issue time and time and time again. And you're right,
they come out looking like they're against law and order.
(06:47):
I'm sure that's not the case. But they just sometimes, John,
I think they can't help themselves.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
Well, look, you know there are some elements of the
Democratic Party that are far left that you know, express
views which has sound like they're not for law enforcement.
And you know, to me, to be on the right
side of law enforcement is the right place politically, you know.
I obviously you can talk about what's right and wrong
(07:17):
in terms of sending in the National Guard to deal
with the increase in crime, but politically, I think it
is a winning issue for Republicans as they look ahead
to next year.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
You can get more from John Decker on the iHeartRadio app.
Just search for his podcast, White House Briefing Room with
John Decker, and be sure to set a preset. John's
going to be back with us on Tuesday at seven
o five Thursday at seven oh five, Today's Tuesday
Let's get to John Decker, w R. White House and
Washington correspondent and host of the new podcast The White
House Briefing Room with John Decker, which can be found
on the iHeartRadio app John's with Us every Tuesday and Thursday.
At this time, Hey, John, how was it over the weekend?
Did you go to the US Open?
Speaker 2 (00:18):
I was there. President Trump was there, absolutely. I was
there for both the semis, the championship for the women
and the men's championship on Sunday. It was a great
US Open over the course of more than two weeks,
this time when you factor in the mixed doubles play
that took place just before the official tournament got underway.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
I know I saw it. I remember last year you
went to the US Open. Do you go every year?
Speaker 2 (00:45):
This was my thirtieth year at the US Open, and
I love it. It's one of my favorite places. And
you know, I do some reporting there actually too, so
it's really terrific to be there. It's my favorite sport
and and this year was not disappointing in any way
in terms of who ended up in the championship for
(01:06):
both the men and the women.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
You must be pulling in a healthy salary to afford
that food. What did you get while you were there?
Speaker 2 (01:15):
You know, every day was something different. You know, they
really have great fare out there. I think one day
we did lobster roles. Another day we just did you know,
smash burgers. Really depending upon what you're feeling on any
particular day. But you're right, it is pricey out there,
for sure. I think it's probably the most expensive. I mean,
(01:36):
you tell me, I haven't been to a Jets or
Giants game, but it's pretty expensive out there for sure.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
No, it's way more expensive. They don't have lobster roll
at the Jets and the Giants game. By the way,
most of the lobster rolls.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
Cost I think that was in the neighborhood of thirty
five dollars.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
Yeah, actually they're thirty five dollars. We're being told. I'm
being told in my ear it's forty dollars.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
Okay, I sit in the neighborhood. You might want the chief,
right rules I would have done.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
Okay, you might have got the chief ones.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Yeah, I got the Chief ones. That's right.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
So let's talk about the National Guard, I mean Donald
And by the way, that's great that you were in town.
It's great. We were not going to hold it against you.
You didn't stop by, But that's fine, that's fine. I'm
glad you enjoyed. I'm glad you enjoyed the test. You're
absolutely welling. All right, now, let's talk about Donald Trump
seems hell bent on sending the National Guard to Chicago.
(02:29):
What would be the pretext to that.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Well, I think one of the areas of pretext is
essentially dereliction of duty on the part of the governor
of Illinois JB. Pritzker. Oh, why do I say that,
because of the increase, the substantial increase in crime statistics
that we're seeing in the city of Chicago. Over the
Labor Day weekend, you had fifty eight shootings. That's just
(02:54):
unheard of even in third world countries. You had eight murders.
That's over the course of just one weekend. And that
was the third weekend in the row in which you
had these large numbers of shootings happening in the city
of Chicago. So, to me, that would be a pretext
for the president. If the governor is not going to
do something to crack down on crime, the president, as
(03:17):
commander in chief, could do something like that. And I
think that's what he's really weighing. He has indicated that
it could be in the next two days or so
that he could dispatch the National Guard to the city
of Chicago, and he already has a blueprint, and that's
the city of Washington, d C. The blueprint is move
the National Guard in and see the crime rate go
(03:39):
down precipitously.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
Well, Pritzer says he's going to sue immediately and he's
going to try to get an emergency ruling in court
viewer a constitutional authority. What does the constitution back him
up on this action?
Speaker 2 (03:55):
Well, it depends what the National Guard is used for.
If the National Guard is being sent in as far
as law enforcement is concerned, that's a problematic area as
far as the president's action is concerned. But if they're
being sent in to protect federal buildings, if they're being
sent in to do work which could augment what the
(04:16):
Metropolitan Police Force in Chicago is doing, that's a different
story entirely. And you know, I think it's really up
to the President as to whether or not he wants
to do in Chicago what he says has happened right
here in Washington, d C. The crime rate here in
d C. Larry has gone down. It has gone down
(04:37):
since the National Guard was put on the streets of Washington,
d C. And that's for every type of crime you
can think of.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
Yeah, to me, it is just crazy that you wouldn't
want federal resources, that you wouldn't want federal hell, that
you wouldn't want people coming in. And I really do
believe they just don't want to do business with Donald
Trump because it would be political suicide when you're a Democrat.
I had heard that he wanted to send the National Guarden,
or at least he was talking to send about sending
(05:06):
the National Guard in to protect ice officers because and
he was saying for a few days and Tom Holman
was out and Christy Noman was out talking about the
increase on assaults on ice officers, and it sounded like
that was building to the fact that he wanted to
send the National Guard not only to protect federal property,
(05:26):
but to protect ice officers, which would put them in
the streets in some of the crime ridden areas.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Have you heard that, Well, that could be a pretext
as well. I have not heard that specifically, but you know,
when President Trump speaks of this issue, and I imagine
he'll speak of this issue later in the afternoon. I'll
be in the pool. I'll be in the Oval Office
for in the afternoon today for a proclamation, and so
hopefully I'll get an opportunity to ask a few questions
(05:54):
of the President. But you know, I think that one
of the things that President has been mentioning in recent
day is this idea that this is a very good
and he afraid about this Larry, a very good political
issue for Republicans as they look ahead to the midterm
elections next year. You know, to be who isn't for
(06:14):
bringing down crime in any community, and you know, it
doesn't matter what your political stripes are, whether you're a
Democrat or Republican or an independent. You want to be
able to live in a safe environment.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
Yeah. I think that many of the Democratic consultants, including
James Carvill, are out in front saying that the Democrats
shouldn't fall for this again, that he pushes the politically.
He pushes the Democrats onto the wrong side of the
issue time and time and time again. And you're right,
they come out looking like they're against law and order.
(06:47):
I'm sure that's not the case. But they just sometimes, John,
I think they can't help themselves.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
Well, look, you know there are some elements of the
Democratic Party that are far left that you know, express
views which has sound like they're not for law enforcement.
And you know, to me, to be on the right
side of law enforcement is the right place politically, you know.
I obviously you can talk about what's right and wrong
(07:17):
in terms of sending in the National Guard to deal
with the increase in crime, but politically, I think it
is a winning issue for Republicans as they look ahead
to next year.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
You can get more from John Decker on the iHeartRadio app.
Just search for his podcast, White House Briefing Room with
John Decker, and be sure to set a preset. John's
going to be back with us on Tuesday at seven
o five Thursday at seven oh five, Today's Tuesday
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