Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker blasted the President Trump administration’s reported plan to send National Guard troops to Chicago, calling it an “invasion” and warning it could be part of a broader effort to undermine elections.
In an interview with CBS News, Pritzker said the White House had not communicated with Illinois officials regarding the plan, first reported by The Washington Post. “It’s clear that, in secret, they’re planning this — well, it’s an invasion with U.S. troops, if they, in fact, do that,” the governor said.
President Trump has already deployed troops and federal agents to Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., as part of his broader crackdown on crime, illegal immigration and unrest. Last week, he labeled Chicago a “mess” and suggested it could be the next city to see such action. Sources told CBS News that immigration enforcement operations could begin in Chicago as soon as next week.
Pritzker, however, warned the deployment may serve political aims rather than public safety, alleging it could be tied to efforts to interfere with the 2026 elections. “Should he be sending troops in? No,” he said, calling the move “an attack on the American people.”
The White House rejected Pritzker’s claims, with spokeswoman Abigail Jackson blasting him as a “slob” and accusing him of ignoring Chicago’s violent crime crisis.
The Trump administration has faced legal challenges over past deployments. In June, California sued after thousands of its National Guard members were sent to Los Angeles despite Gov. Gavin Newsom’s opposition. An appeals court has since suggested the president may have authority under federal law to call up state Guard forces in limited circumstances, though questions remain over whether their use for law enforcement was appropriate.
