The next is the transcript of an interview with Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Democrat of Illinois, that aired on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on Sept. 7, 2025.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And we’re joined now by Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth. She joins us this morning from Schaumburg, Illinois. Good morning to you, Senator.
SENATOR TAMMY DUCKWORTH: Good morning.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So that you attended, as I perceive, an illustration yesterday in Chicago the place hundreds of individuals had been out on the road protesting President Trump’s vow to ship in immigration brokers. I do know he is additionally posted on social media suggesting troops will go in. Quote, “Chicago is about to seek out out why it’s known as the Division of Battle.” Vice President Vance says there aren’t plans to ship in troops. Do you will have concrete indication, now, that there are plans to take action?
SEN. DUCKWORTH: Let’s make it clear the president of america basically simply declared battle on a serious metropolis in his personal nation. This isn’t regular, Margaret. This isn’t acceptable conduct. No, we haven’t any indications of them on the brink of ship troops into Chicago. Actually, I used to be out at Nice Lakes base yesterday, naval coaching base, they usually had been capable of affirm that the one help they have been requested to supply is simply workplace house for ICE, however that no barracks, no detention services, none of that’s being requested or ready with a purpose to assist troops into Chicago.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, so then is that this simply, , social media trash speak? Whenever you say he is declaring battle, is that this tongue in cheek?
SEN. DUCKWORTH: I feel he is renaming the Division of Protection the Division of Battle, and did he not simply say that Chicago will discover out what it means to be at battle? I do not- I take what the President of america says very significantly, as a result of that’s the respect it’s important to give to the workplace. And if that is what he is declaring, then let me make it clear, it could be an unlawful order to declare battle on a serious metropolis, any metropolis inside america, by the President of america.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Senator, I do know you simply talked about you went out to the Nice Lakes Naval coaching session- station, I ought to say, and also you mentioned the navy management mentioned they’re going to solely get workplace house, ICE can’t herald deadly munitions, and the sources is not going to be diverted from navy coaching. So all of that collectively, did you breathe a sigh of aid and say this would possibly not have an actual influence on the navy?
SEN. DUCKWORTH: Nicely, we will make it possible for there’s not an influence on the navy. We want to ensure that- as, , Nice Lakes naval coaching base is the place each single recruit in america Navy goes by means of to get that primary coaching, after which in a while, some superior coaching. We have to make it possible for not a single greenback, not a single penny of the sources that they’ve that ought to be- that needs to be directed in direction of coaching our nation’s sailors and making them able to dare- do their jobs, none of that cash must be diverted with a purpose to assist ICE or any of Donald Trump’s political, , theater efforts. We have to deal with ensuring we end up the perfect sailors we probably can out of the bottom.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So by way of how Democrats are responding to this, this rhetoric, the Chicago Tribune faulted Governor Pritzker for his threats, to cite, “not stand idly by” if the guard went in. They wrote, “what does that risk truly imply? How a couple of dialog earlier than the motion or the response? As a result of it is all probably dangerous to collective well being.” It feels like there’s quite a lot of pressure right here. Is there a possibility to work with the administration to keep away from making this worse?
SEN. DUCKWORTH: Nicely, they’ve not- they’ve not responded to any of our requests. I imply, I am going to offer you a really concrete instance. Senator Durbin, myself, Senator Schneider- Congressman Schneider, despatched requests into DHS to ask them to clarify what precisely are you going to be doing at Nice Lakes? And might we come have a look at your facility so we have now a greater understanding of what your operations are? And so they replied, no, you may’t. And actually, gave their employees the day without work on the day that we went to go have a look at the services, and locked the doorways and left the bottom. Principally, they fled the bottom. This isn’t the motion of somebody that is doing one thing authorized or that they’re- that they are happy with. They actually gave the folks the day without work, locked the doorways and left. Now the Navy allowed us onto the put up. They allowed us to tour the skin of the ability and in addition the place they might be storing the non-lethal munitions. However DHS didn’t present up. And we actually have despatched the administration a number of inquiries about what they’re planning on doing. Who’re they bringing into Chicago? Are they planning to convey the Nationwide Guard in? They’ve- none, none of that. They’ve not even reached out to native legislation enforcement to attempt to coordinate. You already know, in the event that they had been really, really all for combating crime, then they might work with native legislation enforcement and ask them, what do you want? What assist do you want? And we have not gotten any- any communications or suggestions from the administration, in any way.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I need to ask you in your armed providers position about what’s a major geopolitical assembly this previous week. You had quite a lot of America’s adversaries gathering collectively. Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Kim Jong Un of North Korea, all of them in Beijing. And China and Russia appear to be deepening their work collectively. What do you assume the sign to america right here is?
SEN. DUCKWORTH: The sign to america is strictly what, , these authoritarian regimes need to ship, which is that they’re the brand new world energy, that America is shedding its floor, and that they’ve utter disrespect for america. I feel it was very, very clear, and it, , it would not escape me, the truth that as soon as this assembly occurred, which was humiliating to Donald Trump, he instantly responds by saying, effectively, then I will rename the Division of Protection the Division of Battle and declare battle on Chicago. That is what Donald Trump does when one thing dangerous occurs to him within the information cycle, or when the Epstein victims come collectively and have a really emotional press convention, he alters the subject and distracts us by saying issues like, I will ship ICE into Chicago, I am going to do that or try this. The American folks can’t be fooled. We can’t be permitting him to distract us from what is really taking place, which is, it is a man who has pushed our economic system to a degree the place now there are extra unemployed folks than there are jobs. You already know, we’re not promoting our agricultural merchandise abroad. Our adversaries are united in opposition to us.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Nicely, the unemployment charge continues to be low, however I hear you on a weaker than anticipated jobs quantity. Simply in a short time, there was navy motion taken in America’s yard by the Trump administration. Vice President Vance says “killing cartel members who poison our fellow residents is the very best and greatest use of our navy.” He was speaking a couple of strike on a drug boat- alleged drug boat, off the coast of Venezuela. What do you make of that present of pressure?
SEN. DUCKWORTH: It was an illegal- it was an unlawful transfer by the Trump administration. There is a factor known as due course of on this nation, and that wanted to have occurred. And the truth that it occurred in worldwide order- in worldwide waters truly opens Individuals to an identical motion by our adversaries. You simply- we had been simply speaking about Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping and getting collectively and exhibiting us- exhibiting a present of pressure in opposition to america. Nicely, there’s nothing now to cease them from doing one thing like that in opposition to Individuals in worldwide waters. And it may very well be civilians, they usually may say, what? These had been drug boats. We’re simply going to go forward and blow them out of the water. You are- he is setting a priority right here that places Individuals in peril.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Senator Duckworth, thanks in your time this morning. We’ll be proper again.
