Springfield, IL – Today, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) delivered a fiery rebuke of President Donald Trump’s plan to deploy National Guard troops to Chicago, calling it “evil” and “unwanted” during a press conference. Accusing the White House of failing to coordinate with his office or local officials, Pritzker labeled the move a political stunt, comparing Chicago’s crime rates favorably to those in Republican-led states and cities.
Pritzker’s Condemnation – No Coordination, No Justification
At the Monday press conference, Pritzker expressed outrage over learning of Trump’s plan through a Washington Post article, stating, “No one from the White House or the executive branch has reached out to me or to the mayor. No effort has been made to coordinate or to ask for our assistance… Local law enforcement has not been contacted. We have made no requests for federal intervention. None.”
He questioned the rationale, asking, “If this was really about fighting crime and making the streets safe, what possible justification could the White House have for planning such an exceptional action without any conversations or consultations with the governor, the mayor, or the police?”
Pritzker framed the deployment as an overreach, calling it “an extraordinary action” requiring “extraordinary justification.” He directly addressed National Guard troops, saying, “Do not come to Chicago. You’re not wanted or needed,” and accused Trump of using soldiers as “pawns” in a power grab. He hinted that Trump should focus more on his mental health saying, “Your remarks… betray a continuing slip in your mental faculties, and are not fit for the auspicious office that you occupy.”
Chicago’s Crime in Context
Pritzker highlighted Chicago’s improving crime statistics, noting declines in burglaries (down 18% from 2023 to 2024) and robberies (down 15%), per Chicago Police Department data. He contrasted Illinois with Republican-led states, stating, “13 of the top 20 cities in homicide rate have Republican governors. None of these cities is Chicago. Eight of the top 10 states with the highest homicide rates are led by Republicans. None of those states is Illinois.”
Citing FBI 2024 crime data, he pointed to Memphis, Tennessee (homicide rate 44.7 per 100,000), and Hattiesburg, Mississippi (higher violent crime rates than Chicago’s 617 per 100,000), questioning why Trump targeted Chicago but not these cities.
He also criticized Trump and congressional Republicans for cutting $800 million in national public safety grants, including $158 million for Illinois violence prevention programs, per a 2025 DOJ report, arguing, “If Donald Trump was actually serious about fighting crime… he would not be cutting funding.”
Political and Social Backdrop
The dispute unfolds amid a polarized national climate. Trump’s August 11, executive order federalizing D.C.’s police and deploying National Guard troops, justified by “reconfigured” crime stats admitted by Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, has sparked “Free D.C.” protests. The Megabill , with its $1 trillion Medicaid cuts, is the most unpopular legislation since 1990, with a minus 22-point net favorability. The Epstein files, Ghislaine Maxwell’s prison transfer, interview and transcript, and the FBI raid on John Bolton’s home after his health comments fuel accusations of authoritarianism.
Health concerns about Trump, raised by Alex Jones, Mary Trump, and Bolton, cite “swollen ankles” and a new left-hand bruise spotted on August 23, during a Virginia golf outing, following a right-hand bruise first noted on February 25, attributed to “frequent handshaking” by Leavitt. Trump’s August 21 AI speech, mocked for claiming “a lot of people don’t know what AI is,” and Gavin Newsom’s viral trolling campaign amplify perceptions of erratic leadership.
On X, reactions to Pritzker’s remarks are divided. Liberals like @CalltoActivism praised him, posting, “Pritzker just called out Trump’s military stunt in Chicago as EVIL. He’s right—Trump’s desperate for control.” MAGA users like @WallStreetApes countered, “Pritzker’s soft on crime—Chicago’s a mess, and Trump’s trying to fix it.” Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson echoed Pritzker, calling the deployment “an assault on our city.”
Why It Matters
Pritzker’s stance reflects resistance to federal overreach, echoing D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb’s lawsuit blocking Trump’s attempt to appoint a DEA official as D.C.’s “emergency police commissioner.” Legal experts like Georgetown’s Stephen Vladeck argue Trump’s authority under the D.C. Home Rule Act doesn’t extend to unilateral control, a precedent that could apply to Chicago if troops are deployed without state consent, per the Insurrection Act of 1807.
Illinois’s crime data supports Pritzker’s claims. A 2024 FBI report shows Chicago’s homicide rate (18.3 per 100,000) is lower than Memphis (44.7) and St. Louis (69.4), both in GOP-led states. However, Trump’s focus on Chicago aligns with his “law and order” narrative, bolstered by a DOJ probe into alleged D.C. crime data manipulation.
Critics argue this selective targeting reflects political motives, especially after California’s Newsom challenged Trump’s redistricting plans with a “Liberation Day” ballot measure.
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What’s Next?
Pritzker’s defiance positions him as a Democratic leader, potentially boosting his 2028 presidential prospects alongside figures like Newsom.
If Trump deploys troops to Chicago, it could escalate protests, mirroring D.C.’s unrest, with groups like Refuse Fascism planning a November 5, “day of resistance.” The DHS’s deletion of texts, labeled a Federal Records Act violation by American Oversight, and Maxwell’s DOJ interview further erode trust in Trump’s transparency. Pritzker’s call to block troops may force a legal showdown, testing federal versus state authority.
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