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By Jenna Sundel and Gabe Whisnant
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Illinois Governor JB Pritzker issued a defiant response on Wednesday after President Donald Trump escalated his criticism of Chicago's Democratic leadership, posting that Mayor Brandon Johnson and Pritzker “should be in jail” for failing to protect federal immigration officers.
The president's remarks came amid intensifying clashes between protesters and ICE agents in Broadview, Illinois, and legal efforts by state officials to block Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to Chicago.
Pritzker posted on X, "I will not back down. Trump is now calling for the arrest of elected representatives checking his power. What else is left on the path to full-blown authoritarianism?"
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The governor continued, "His masked agents already are grabbing people off the street. Separating children from their parents. Creating fear. Taking people for 'how they look.' Making people feel they need to carry citizenship papers. Invading our state with military troops. Sending in war helicopters in the middle of the night. Arresting elected officials asking questions. We must all stand up and speak out."
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Why It Matters
The Trump administration and Pritzker have frequently clashed over the deployment of the National Guard in Chicago. Trump said the city has high crime rates, which Pritzker denies. Police statistics show significant drops in most crimes, including homicides.
The state of Illinois and the city of Chicago filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration on Monday.
"Illinois is taking the Trump Administration to court for their unlawful and unconstitutional deployment of military troops to our state," Pritzker said on X.
A White House spokesperson told Newsweek in a statement on Monday, "Amidst ongoing violent riots and lawlessness, that local leaders like Pritzker have refused to step in to quell, President Trump has exercised his lawful authority to protect federal officers and assets. President Trump will not turn a blind eye to the lawlessness plaguing American cities.”
Trump Threatens Jail for Illinois Governor, Chicago Mayor: What We Know
"Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing to protect Ice Officers! Governor Pritzker also!" Trump wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday.
Johnson responded to Trump's comments on X, writing, "This is not the first time Trump has tried to have a Black man unjustly arrested. I’m not going anywhere."
National Guard troops from Texas are positioned outside Chicago despite the lawsuit filed by the state and city.
Pritzker told reporters that “the federal government has not communicated with us in any way about their troop movements.”
“I can’t believe I have to say ‘troop movements’ in an American city, but that is what we’re talking about here,” he said.
Pritzker said he would enforce a court ruling if a federal court were to rule that the National Guard deployment be blocked, yet operations would continue anyway.
“We would enforce a judicial ruling,” he said. “You should hope that the federal government, the state government, the local government would be able to enforce a federal court’s order. That’s why we went to court.”
Where Has the National Guard Been Deployed?
The National Guard has been deployed to Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles. In Memphis, Tennessee, Police Chief Cerelyn Davis said that a small group of commanders had already arrived in the city, planning for the arrival of National Guard troops.
The Trump administration has also attempted to deploy troops to Chicago, where a lawsuit is pending, and Portland, where it was halted by court action.
What People Are Saying
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, on X: "Illinois will not let the Trump Administration continue on their authoritarian march without resisting. We will use every lever at our disposal to stop this power grab because military troops should not be used against American communities."
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, on X: "Brandon Johnson and @JBPritzker are doing everything in their power to shelter and protect criminal illegal alien gangbangers, murderers, and violent anarchists."
What Happens Next
Illinois and Chicago are seeking a temporary restraining order on the deployment of National Guard troops while the lawsuit proceeds. A hearing has been set for Thursday.
This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.
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Update 10/8/25, 12:45 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
Update 10/8/25, 4:22 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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