Pritzker Calls Trump’s National Guard Move ‘Illegal and Unwanted’

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker delivered a sharp warning to President Donald Trump on Monday after Trump threatened to deploy the National Guard to Chicago in response to violent crime.

Standing alongside Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Attorney General Kwame Raoul, and U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin, Pritzker declared that the president’s plan was “illegal, unconstitutional, and un-American.”

Pritzker’s Strong Message to Trump

Governor Pritzker made it clear that Chicago doesn’t need federal troops:

“Mr. President, do not come to Chicago. You are neither wanted here nor needed here. If you hurt my people, nothing will stop me from making sure you face justice under the rule of law.”

He accused Trump of planning an unprecedented overreach by putting armed soldiers on American city streets — something the governor warned the founding fathers of the United States specifically tried to prevent.

Trump’s Push for Military Deployment

Earlier, Trump told reporters that he could solve Chicago’s crime problem in a week, calling the city a “killing field” and labeling Pritzker a “disaster.”

“We will solve Chicago within one week — maybe less. The governor should be asking me for help. Chicago is a disaster.”

Trump suggested he would prefer to be invited to send the National Guard but also hinted he could order it without Illinois leaders’ approval.

Chicago Leaders Push Back

Senator Tammy Duckworth, who served 23 years in the military, blasted Trump for politicizing the National Guard:

“The men and women in uniform serve to defend our freedoms, not to police their neighbors or protect a president’s ego.”

Senator Dick Durbin echoed that sentiment, stressing that real crime solutions require cooperation with local officials, not federal occupation.

Mayor Brandon Johnson also rejected Trump’s plan, saying Chicagoans don’t want outside interference:

“The last thing this city needs is military occupation. Chicagoans know their rights, and we will protect our way of life.”

Legal Questions Over National Guard Authority

Legal experts argue that Trump cannot legally deploy troops under the Posse Comitatus Act, which prevents the military from acting as police.

Attorney General Kwame Raoul stated:

“There is no emergency in Illinois that justifies using the National Guard. If the president tries, we are ready to fight back in court, just as we have against other unlawful overreaches.”

Crime in Chicago: The Reality

Despite Trump’s harsh words, Chicago crime has actually dropped significantly in 2025:

• Shootings are down 37%

• Homicides have fallen 32%

• Overall violent crime has dropped by 22%

Still, experts note that violence remains concentrated in certain neighborhoods, with some areas facing homicide rates many times higher than safer parts of the city.

Final Word

Governor Pritzker made it clear: Chicago does not want or need troops patrolling its streets. He urged residents to remain peaceful but vigilant if Trump tries to force military involvement.

“Hopefully rational voices will prevail. But if not, Illinois will stand strong against this dangerous and misguided attempt to intimidate our people.”