Illinois Governor JB Pritzker criticized President Donald Trump’s reported plans to deploy the National Guard to Chicago, calling the move unnecessary and politically motivated.
“There is no emergency that warrants the President federalizing the Illinois National Guard or deploying military forces to our state,” Pritzker said in a statement on Saturday. “The State of Illinois has not received any outreach from the federal government offering assistance, nor have we made any such requests.”
His remarks follow reports that the Pentagon has been planning a military deployment to Chicago for weeks, potentially involving several thousand National Guard troops next month, according to The Washington Post.
The proposed action comes after a significant increase in federal law enforcement presence in Washington, D.C., where hundreds of federal agents and National Guard troops were recently sent in an effort to combat crime. Now, Trump has suggested that Chicago could be next in what his administration describes as a federal effort to address urban violence.
Pritzker, a Democrat, accused Trump of “manufacturing a crisis” for political gain. “He is politicizing our military, abusing his power, and trying to distract from the real harm his policies are causing working families,” he said.
Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton echoed Pritzker’s concerns, describing the reported troop deployment as a politically motivated attempt to sow chaos.
“Crime in Chicago is declining, and there is no justification for such a drastic move,” Stratton said. “This is about power—not public safety. Under the Pritzker-Stratton administration, we’ve made significant progress in reforming our criminal legal system.”
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson also weighed in, warning that the deployment of the National Guard could damage community-police relations. “Unlawfully deploying the National Guard would be unsustainable and could undermine the historic progress we’ve made,” he said in a Friday statement.
Johnson cited recent data showing a decrease in homicides, robberies, and shootings in the city over the past year.
State leaders emphasized that Illinois will continue to follow the law, defend its sovereignty, and prioritize the safety and rights of its residents.