President Donald Trump has intensified his feud with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, criticizing the governor’s handling of Chicago’s deadly violence and linking his recent weight loss to potential re-election ambitions. In a fiery statement on Truth Social, Trump accused Pritzker of being ‘incompetent’ and warned that the governor must ‘straighten it out, fast, or we’re coming’ after a violent weekend in Chicago left six people dead and over two dozen injured. Trump’s remarks come amid his recent executive actions to restore law and order in Washington, D.C., including federalizing the Metropolitan Police and deploying the National Guard. Pritzker, however, has dismissed Trump’s demands as ‘unconstitutional’ and claimed the president’s threats are a ‘dangerous power grab.’ The governor also mocked Trump’s comments about his weight, with Pritzker retorting, ‘it takes one to know one on the weight question.’ Analysts suggest Pritzker’s recent weight loss may be a strategic move, as similar changes have preceded political campaigns by figures like Chris Christie and Mike Pompeo. The escalating tension benefits both politicians, with Trump framing Chicago as a symbol of Democratic failure and Pritzker positioning himself as a defiant leader standing against presidential overreach.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has also signed an executive order rejecting Trump’s threat to deploy federal troops or the National Guard, asserting that the city does not need nor want an ‘unconstitutional and illegal military occupation.’ Johnson vowed that Chicago would ‘do everything in our power to defend our democracy and protect our communities.’ This stance aligns with Pritzker’s broader defense of the state’s autonomy, as the governor’s office has not responded to recent calls for comment on the matter. Trump’s criticism of Chicago’s violence is part of his broader strategy to bolster his law-and-order image, while Pritzker’s defiance of Trump’s demands aims to portray the governor as a strong leader resisting presidential overreach. The situation highlights the deepening political divide between the two leaders, with each using the conflict to advance their respective agendas.