US braces for unrest as Trump reportedly set to declare premature victory

US cities are preparing for civil unrest and violence during and after Election Day, as President Donald Trump reportedly plans to declare a premature victory if he is “ahead” on Tuesday night, despite uncounted ballots.

US media reported Tuesday that federal forces and personnel from the Justice Department’s Bureau of Prisons, as well as others from the Marshals Service, are preparing for deployment in the streets of Washington for confronting potential unrest.

Trump has previously declined to commit to a peaceful transfer of power, citing voter fraud. 

In the city of Kenosha — where Trump had one final campaign rally Monday night — police forces were deployed to City Hall and polling places.

Some urban areas, including Minneapolis are also prepared for chaos, according to reports.

At least 3,671 US troops are on stand-by in 16 states for rapid deployment. They include 1,000 troops in Massachusetts, 300 in Arizona, 300 in Alabama, and an undisclosed Guard troops have been committed to the effort.

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In New York, stores and businesses are boarding up in anticipation of unrest and potential looting by covering windows with plywood.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city wasn’t directing business owners to do so, but admitted, “Everyone, of course, is concerned about the election results and what plays out after.”

“I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow, I don’t think any of us do, but given the events over the summer, better safe than sorry,” said owner of a marketing agency.

In Los Angeles, Beverly Hills cops will put Rodeo Drive on lockdown as the feds plan to erect a massive fence around the White House.

The mobilization of forces suggests that the Justice Department was reprising its activities from June, when anti-racial protests sparked across the nation in response to death of African American George Floyd at the hands of US police.

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Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said her city has prepared for election-related protests and unrest, with, plans to curb violence including increased police patrols and the use of dump trucks and other heavy vehicles as blockades.

“No matter the outcomes of [the] elections, we all know that emotions will be high because they already are, and I urge you to channel those emotions into peaceful and productive expressions,” Lightfoot said at a press conference last week.

In Minneapolis, where Floyd was killed in May, election officials will deploy a “sergeant-at-arms” at each polling site to “help ensure an orderly voting process,” said Sarah McKenzie, a city spokeswoman.

“We continue to plan for the worst and hope for the best,” she added.

Fears of violence have erupted since Trump called on his supporters, during the first presidential debate, to voluntarily go to polls to combat voter fraud.

His campaign argued that that poll watchers are essential in combating voter fraud, but election experts believe this could frighten voters.

Trump supporters have already taken part in violence acts during anti-racial protests in several cities, including Portland, where the clashes resulted in shooting death of a supporter of the president.

On Friday, Trump supporters surrounded a Biden campaign bus with their vehicles bearing Trump flags and signs in Texas. Video of the incident showed a collision between two cars, with the Biden campaign saying the pro-Trump trucks tried to run the bus off the road as it traveled from San Antonio to Austin.

Trump supported Texas drivers who surrounded Biden’s campaign bus, lashing out at the FBI after it said it was conducting an investigation into the incident.

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