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Pritzker says Trump prepares National Guard to intervene in Chicago

The governor asserted that his office has reason to believe that preparations for such a deployment have already begun.

JB Pritzker

JB PritzkerAFP.

Sabrina Martin
Published by
Sabrina Martin

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker warned Tuesday that the Trump Administration would be ready to mobilize the Texas National Guard to Chicago amid growing tensions over how to deal with violence in the city.

During a press conference, Pritzker assured that his office has reason to believe that preparations for such a deployment have already begun, after Trump warned that he could federalize security control in the so-called Windy City.

Trump defends the measure as a presidential obligation.

In recent days, Trump had pressed Pritzker on the need to take stronger action against insecurity in Chicago. On Tuesday, he re-emphasized that he will step in at any time: "Well, we’re going in. I didn’t say when. We’re going in. Look, I have an obligation. This isn’t a political thing. I have an obligation," he said from the White House.

The discussion comes as the administration points to the deployment in Washington as an example of success. The White House noted that the federal crackdown on crime in the capital began last month with the support of the National Guard and even received favorable comments from Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser.

Trump expands his warnings

In addition to Chicago, the president also took aim at Baltimore. Through a message on Truth Social, Trump threatened to send troops to the city to "quickly clean up crime," replicating the strategy recently applied in the nation's capital.
"But if Wes Moore needs help, like Gavin Newscum did in L.A., I will send in the ‘troops,’ which is being done in nearby DC, and quickly clean up the Crime," the president wrote, taking advantage of the publication to mock California Governor Gavin Newsom and challenge Maryland's Democratic governor.

Rejection from Illinois

Pritzker made clear his opposition to federal forces setting up shop in Chicago, warning that the president's strategy could escalate tension in the streets. "I want to be very clear on this point … that the Trump plan is to use any excuse to deploy armed military personnel to Chicago," he said.

The governor called on residents not to react with violence or fall into provocations if the troop deployment ultimately materializes.

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