Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has fired back at President Trump’s proposal to send National Guard troops into Democratic-led cities like Chicago. In a pointed interview, Pritzker suggested that the deployment might have a deeper agenda—not simply bound to tackling crime but possibly aimed at influencing the 2026 elections or even halting them altogether.
The White House swiftly dismissed the claim, pointing to soaring violent crime rates and firearm recoveries in Chicago. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem emphasized that the federal response is driven by public safety needs—not political motives.
Pritzker, in turn, labeled the plan unconstitutional and a threat to democratic norms, pledging to mount legal opposition. Meanwhile, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order barring local law enforcement from assisting federal agents in immigration or related operations.