Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has denounced President Donald Trump’s threat to deploy the National Guard to Chicago, calling the move unconstitutional and a dangerous power grab. In a recent statement, Pritzker asserted that the state would not stand idly by, vowing to respond to any federal action. This tension arises as the federal government explores the possibility of sending troops to address rising crime in the city. Trump has accused Illinois officials of failing to manage the situation, claiming that crime is out of control.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, a fellow Democrat, has cited data showing that violent crime in the city has declined in recent months. However, recent statistics indicate that crime levels are still higher than in 2021. Johnson emphasized that the President’s approach is uncoordinated and potentially harmful, as deploying the National Guard could inflame tensions between residents and law enforcement. Other Illinois leaders have also criticized the potential troop deployment, with Trump responding by calling the governor and mayor ‘incompetent’ for not addressing the crisis.
This controversy follows Trump’s recent efforts to increase the presence of federal law enforcement in Washington, D.C., as part of an initiative to curb crime. Hundreds of federal agents and National Guard troops have been deployed to the district’s streets as part of the federal takeover. The situation in Chicago has sparked significant political discourse, highlighting the broader tensions between local governance and federal intervention.