Illinois governor JB Pritzker speaks during a news conference at River Point Park. (AP)
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker fired back at President Donald Trump on Tuesday, warning that any attempt to deploy the National Guard to Chicago would face fierce resistance from state and city officials.“We are watching, and we are taking names,” Pritzker said at a press conference overlooking the Chicago River. “This country has survived darker periods than the one that we’re going through right now.”Pritzker called Trump’s proposal to send in thousands of troops “an unconstitutional overreach” aimed at punishing political dissidents and scoring points with his base. “Mr President, do not come to Chicago. You are neither wanted here nor needed here,” the governor said. Joining Pritzker were Mayor Brandon Johnson, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, and US Senators Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin. Officials framed the threatened deployment as a “dangerous step toward authoritarianism” that would put communities at risk.Mayor Johnson emphasized the city’s stance: “We believe you don’t solve crime by sending in the military. We are being targeted because of who we are as a city.” Trump, meanwhile, called Chicago “a disaster” and promised, “We go in, we will solve Chicago within one week, maybe less… no crime in Chicago.” Yet Chicago Police Department data shows murders dropped 31% and shootings fell 37% in the first seven months of 2025 compared to last year.This confrontation echoes past clashes in Los Angeles and Washington, DC, where Trump attempted to deploy federal troops over the objections of local Democratic leaders. Illinois officials warn that Chicago could join these cities as a flashpoint in the fight over federal authority versus local control.Pritzker, who is seeking a third term and has not ruled out a 2028 presidential bid, concluded: “If the president tries this, we will see the Trump administration in court. The state of Illinois is ready to stand against this military deployment with every peaceful tool we have.”
