Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson went on the attack Tuesday, hurling wild accusations at President Trump and vowing not to “negotiate with a terrorist” over the administration’s immigration crackdown.

In a chaotic press conference, Johnson accused Trump of committing “terrorism” against “working people” simply for enforcing the law and threatening to cut off federal funds to sanctuary cities like Chicago.

“Trying to force your will to break the spirit of working people in order to have a conversation, that’s terrorism,” Johnson said, according to the Chicago Tribune. “We’re not going to negotiate with terrorists.”

The mayor’s inflammatory rhetoric comes as the Trump administration considers pulling federal dollars from cities that defy federal immigration law. For Chicago, that could mean losing up to $3.5 billion—including $1.5 billion earmarked for the struggling public school system.

Johnson tried to walk back the attack later in the same briefing, claiming he was only saying Trump’s behavior was “like” terrorism. But then he doubled down again, accusing the president of holding tax dollars “hostage” and launching “adversarial attacks against working people.”

And he didn’t stop there. Johnson went on to claim that Trump’s policies are part of a targeted campaign against black Americans, declaring, “There’s a long history of Black political leaders talking to people who may not see us as first class,” while adding defiantly, “I won’t kiss the ring.”

The unhinged remarks come at a time when Johnson is facing a political firestorm at home. His administration is buried in controversy, including a recent “gift-gate” scandal where he tried to hide expensive gifts in a secret storage room at city hall—refusing at first to let the inspector general examine the contents.

Under mounting pressure, he was finally forced to disclose the gifts and let investigators in.

Johnson’s approval numbers reflect the fallout. In February, one poll pegged his approval rating at just 14 percent. Another survey from the same month dropped that figure even lower—to a stunning 6.6 percent.

With a $1.2 billion city budget deficit looming—even with federal funds—Johnson’s decision to escalate a war of words with the White House looks increasingly desperate.

While Johnson lashes out, the Trump administration is moving forward. ICE raids have resumed in Chicago, signaling that federal enforcement won’t be deterred by local political tantrums.

The message from the administration is simple: obey the law or lose the money.

Mayor Johnson may want to score points with far-left activists by smearing Trump, but he’s putting the people of Chicago in real danger—risking billions in aid while the city faces crime, economic decline, and a flood of illegal migration.

This is what Democrat leadership looks like in deep-blue cities: failed policies, reckless rhetoric, and political grandstanding at the expense of law-abiding citizens. And the people of Chicago are paying the price.