Trump Posts Clips of ‘Chaos’ in Chicago — Showing Palm Trees and Florida Arrests
Donald Trump and the White House are under fire once again—this time for a flashy video critics say crosses the line from spin to outright deception. The video, posted Wednesday on the official White House X account, was meant to show “chaos” in Chicago. Instead, it showed palm trees.
The slickly edited clip features heavily armed agents storming homes, dragging suspects away, and a grim narration from Trump declaring Chicago a “mess.” Bold text flashes across the screen—“ILLEGAL CRIMINAL ALIENS, CARTELS, AND GANGS ARE POISONING OUR KIDS”—alongside images of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker.
“An incompetent Mayor. A delusional Governor. Chicago is in chaos, and the American people are paying the price,” the post read. “Chicago doesn’t need political spin—it needs HELP.”
But it didn’t take long for viewers to notice something strange. Those palm trees didn’t exactly scream Midwest.
Reporters quickly traced the footage to a Department of Homeland Security operation in Florida called Operation Tidal Wave—a major immigration raid filmed in April and labeled “Media B-Roll… State of Florida.” In other words, not Chicago.
The mix-up—or intentional misdirection—infuriated Illinois officials.
“We’re proud that Chicago was just ranked the best big city in the U.S.,” said Gov. Pritzker’s spokesman, Matt Hill, in a statement to The Daily Beast. “We’re proud of its beautiful beaches, booming businesses, and decent people. But we can’t claim credit for any palm trees.”
Hill didn’t hold back on the broader message either: “It’s no surprise the Trump team spends more time faking videos about Florida than fixing the real problems hurting Americans—like high prices and healthcare.”
The controversy comes as Trump intensifies his campaign rhetoric on crime and immigration, using Democratic-led cities as his political punching bags. He’s threatened to deploy the National Guard to Chicago, accusing local leaders of letting “lawlessness” run rampant—and even called for Pritzker and Johnson to be jailed. Pritzker’s response: “Come and get me.”
Illinois isn’t sitting idle. On Monday, the state sued to block Trump’s planned National Guard deployment, arguing that using Texas-based troops in Illinois violates the Posse Comitatus Act, which bans the U.S. military from engaging in domestic law enforcement.
The lawsuit calls Trump’s order an “unlawful and dangerous ‘war’ on the state” and warns it could trigger a constitutional crisis. A federal judge declined to issue an immediate block but scheduled a fast-tracked hearing. Legal experts note that a recent ruling against a similar Trump move in Los Angeles could bolster Illinois’ case.
Trump’s lawyers, meanwhile, are threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act if courts interfere—a step that would give him sweeping authority to send troops anywhere in the country.
Pritzker has condemned the standoff as an “authoritarian stunt,” accusing Trump of turning governance into a “reality show.” He insists the city doesn’t need troops—it needs leadership and resources.
While Trump and his allies continue to hammer Chicago as a “failed” city, neither the White House nor the Department of Homeland Security has explained why the supposed Chicago raid video featured footage from Florida.