Illinois Governor JB Pritzker responded strongly to President Donald Trump’s suggestion to deploy the National Guard to Chicago. During a press conference on Monday, Pritzker made it clear that neither the National Guard nor Trump is welcome in the city.
Trump expressed his desire to work with Democratic leaders to address rising violent crime in major cities. However, Pritzker questioned the president’s motives, suggesting that the proposal was not genuinely about crime prevention. He argued that the lack of communication with local officials showed that the plan was more about political posturing than public safety.
Pritzker emphasized that if the White House was serious about fighting crime, they would have consulted with him, the mayor, or local police before making such a significant decision. He accused Trump of seeking to intimidate political opponents by deploying military forces in Democratic areas.
In a direct message to Trump, Pritzker said, “Mr. President, do not come to Chicago. You are neither wanted here nor needed here.” This statement highlighted the tension between the state leadership and the federal government, especially regarding how to handle crime.
While Trump has not yet taken official steps to send the National Guard to Chicago, he has previously indicated that the city might be next after deploying federal agents to Washington, D.C. He reiterated his preference for local leaders to request federal assistance, suggesting that he would rather not impose his presence on cities without an invitation.
The backdrop to this conflict is Chicago’s ongoing struggle with violent crime. The city has had the highest murder rate among U.S. cities with populations over one million for seven consecutive years. In 2024, Chicago’s homicide rate reached 21.7 per 100,000 people, significantly higher than rates in Los Angeles and New York City.
This situation mirrors Trump’s earlier actions in Los Angeles, where he bypassed California Governor Gavin Newsom to send in the National Guard amid protests. Newsom’s legal challenge against that deployment is still pending in court.
As tensions rise between state and federal authorities, the debate over crime and safety in Chicago continues, with both sides firmly holding their ground.
