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Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has strongly opposed President Donald Trump's threat to deploy the National Guard to Chicago. Pritzker stated that Illinois "will not stand idly by" if Trump follows through with his plan to address crime in the city. The governor emphasized that any action by the president would be met with a response from the state.
"Unlike Donald Trump, we keep our promises. We will not stand idly by if he decides to send the National Guard to intimidate Chicagoans. Action will be met with a response," he wrote on X.
Pritzker's comments came after Trump criticized him and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, calling them "incompetent" and suggesting they should seek his help with crime. Trump cited recent crime statistics to justify his proposal, despite Mayor Johnson noting a decline in violent crime over the past year.
Pritzker argued that there is no crime emergency in Chicago warranting federal intervention. He accused Trump of attempting to "manufacture a crisis" and using the military to "punish dissidents and score political points." Pritzker also labeled the potential deployment as "unconstitutional" and "un-American."
Chicago's mayor echoed Pritzker's concerns, stating that deploying the National Guard could worsen tensions between residents and law enforcement. Both leaders are committed to maintaining the state's sovereignty and protecting Illinois residents without federal interference.