Pritzker Tells Trump: ‘Do Not Come To Chicago’ Amid National Guard Threat
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker fired back at President Donald Trump on Monday after the president floated the idea of deploying the National Guard to Chicago to combat violent crime.
Speaking from the White House, Trump said he would prefer for Democratic mayors and governors to request assistance before sending in troops, but suggested that Chicago might be next following the federal deployment to Washington, D.C.
“You really want to be asked to go,” Trump said. “I hate to barge in on a city and then be treated horribly by corrupt politicians and bad politicians, like a guy like Pritzker. He ought to spend more time at the gym, actually. That guy is a disaster.”
Pritzker Responds with Sharp Rebuke
During a press conference alongside local and state Democratic officials, Governor Pritzker called Trump’s proposal an act of political theater, not a legitimate crime-fighting strategy.
“This is not about fighting crime. This is about Donald Trump searching for any justification to deploy the military in a blue city in a blue state to try to intimidate his political rivals,” Pritzker said. “If this was really about making the streets safe, what possible justification could there be for doing this without consulting the mayor, the governor, or law enforcement?”
Pritzker added, “Mr. President, do not come to Chicago. You are neither wanted here nor needed here.”
He accused Trump of abusing federal power for political purposes, calling the potential deployment “exactly the type of overreach that our country’s founders warned against.”
Chicago’s Crime Numbers and Trump’s Broader Strategy
According to data cited by the White House, Chicago had the highest homicide rate among U.S. cities with over one million residents for seven consecutive years. In 2024, the city recorded a murder rate of 21.7 per 100,000 residents—triple that of Los Angeles and over five times higher than New York City.
Trump’s administration is reportedly considering similar action in other cities, including Los Angeles and New York, where violent crime remains an ongoing concern.
Earlier this year, Trump bypassed California Governor Gavin Newsom to deploy the National Guard during anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles. Newsom sued the federal government in response, and that case is still awaiting a ruling.
Trump maintains that his administration prefers cooperation with local leaders but won’t hesitate to act if crime continues to spiral out of control. “We saved Los Angeles,” he said. “You’re barely able to have the Olympics there now.”
A Clash of Visions
The exchange between Trump and Pritzker underscores a growing rift between the White House and Democratic-controlled cities and states, particularly on matters of crime and public order. As Trump doubles down on federal action, blue-state leaders appear poised to resist what they describe as federal intrusion.