Illinois Governor JB Pritzker Denounces Trump’s Threat to Deploy National Guard in Chicago
Chicago, IL — Illinois Governor JB Pritzker strongly condemned President Donald Trump’s threat to deploy the National Guard or active-duty military forces to Chicago, calling it an “authoritarian power grab” and a misuse of federal resources. The announcement has sparked alarm among Illinois elected officials, community leaders, and legal experts who warn that the move is illegal, unconstitutional, and unnecessary.
In a press conference held on August 25, 2025, Governor Pritzker stated, “There is no emergency in Chicago that calls for armed military intervention that will disrupt the daily lives of our people. What President Trump is doing is unprecedented and unwarranted. It is illegal. It is unconstitutional. And it is un-American.” The governor emphasized that the city’s civilian police and elected leaders work diligently to promote public safety, pointing out that crime rates have significantly declined in recent years.
The threat by Trump comes as part of an executive order aimed at creating specialized National Guard units trained to quell civil disturbances and facilitate rapid deployment nationwide. Yet, the move has drawn fierce resistance from local leaders including Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, both of whom reported no communication from the White House regarding the planned deployment.
Legal experts cite established laws restricting the federal government’s ability to federalize National Guard units without state consent. Northwestern University law professor Paul Gowder noted that since the country’s founding, state control over local law enforcement and militias serves as a crucial check against federal overreach. The president’s authority to federalize troops unilaterally is generally constrained to situations involving rebellion, foreign invasion, or enforcement failures of federal laws under the Insurrection Act of 1807.
Douglas William Godfrey, a Chicago Kent College of Law professor, explained, “We’ve had guardsmen on the streets before, but they were ordered in by the governor, as is traditional and legal. Governors typically mobilize the guard in response to natural disasters or emergencies. The president cannot simply insert federal troops into a state without meeting strict legal criteria.”
Governor Pritzker warned Republican governors across the country not to allow federalization of their states’ National Guards for deployment to Chicago. He declared the state would deploy every peaceful legal measure to protect Illinoisans’ rights and prevent what he described as federal overreach.
Congressman Sean Casten criticized the proposal as a political stunt that would violate state sovereignty and divert law enforcement resources from their essential duties. He said, “Sending the National Guard into Chicago is outrageous — a power grab by an aspiring dictator. It would do nothing to improve public safety but instead would worsen the turmoil.”
Data from Chicago police show violent crime and homicides are currently at their lowest levels since 2014, further undercutting President Trump’s rationale for deployment. While some Republicans argue that a National Guard presence would improve security, the initiative has not found support among local and state Democratic leadership.
The White House has yet to coordinate with Governor Pritzker’s office or Mayor Johnson, intensifying concerns about the legality and lack of consultation regarding the National Guard deployment.
As Illinois and Chicago’s leaders mobilize to legally challenge the plan, the debate highlights sharp divisions over federal intervention in local public safety and law enforcement. Governor Pritzker maintains the move threatens constitutional principles and could set dangerous precedents for state-federal relations.
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