He made the announcement in a Truth Social post saying his decision is due to crime being reduced in those cities, but suggested that troops could return if crime "begins to soar again."

The first deadly shooting tied to the operation took place just days later. Federal agents in Franklin Park pulled over Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez and shot him to death when they say he drove toward them, causing one officer to suffer what DHS at the time called "severe injuries."

The justices let stand for now a judge’s order blocking the deployment in a legal challenge brought by Illinois officials and local leaders.

Operation Midway Blitz resulted in more than 100 protester arrests. Almost all of those cases have fallen apart.