Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has raised alarm bells over the Trump administration’s reported plans to deploy federal forces to Chicago, describing the potential move as an “invasion” and warning of motives that go beyond fighting crime. In a series of interviews and public statements over the last week, Pritzker made it clear that neither he nor his office have received any direct communication from the White House regarding the rumored deployment of National Guard troops or federal officers to the city.
"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," Pritzker told CBS News, according to their recent coverage. The governor’s remarks came after The Washington Post reported that the Pentagon is drawing up plans to potentially send thousands of National Guard members to Chicago as early as September, though no official confirmation has been issued by federal authorities.
Pritzker’s concerns extend beyond public safety and into the realm of democratic process. He argued that President Trump’s intentions may be less about addressing crime and more about influencing or even halting the 2026 elections. "He'll just claim that there's some problem with an election, and then he's got troops on the ground that can take control if, in fact, he's allowed to do this," Pritzker said during an appearance on CBS’s Face the Nation. He continued, "National Guard troops — any kind of troops on the streets of an American city don't belong unless there is an insurrection, unless there is truly an emergency. There is not."
President Trump has not shied away from criticizing Chicago’s leadership or its record on crime. In a recent Truth Social post on August 30, 2025, he called Pritzker a “weak and pathetic Governor” and warned, “He better straighten it out, FAST, or we're coming!” Trump has repeatedly pointed to Chicago’s high crime rates as justification for federal intervention, labeling the city a “mess” and vowing to “straighten that one out probably next.”
The Trump administration’s approach is not unprecedented. In recent months, National Guard forces and federal agents have been deployed to Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., as part of what the president describes as a crackdown on illegal immigration, violent crime, and civil unrest. These deployments have sparked controversy and legal challenges, with local officials insisting that local police are best equipped to handle such issues and warning that the presence of federal forces could escalate tensions.
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson was quick to dismiss Pritzker’s accusations, instead turning the focus back on Chicago’s crime statistics. In a statement to CBS News, Jackson said, “It's amazing the lengths this slob will go to in order to deflect from the terrible crime crisis that has been plaguing Chicago for years. For 13 consecutive years, Chicago has had the most murders of any U.S. city, and for seven consecutive years, Chicago has had the highest murder rate among U.S. cities with more than 1 million people. More illegal guns are recovered in Chicago than in New York City and LA combined.” She added, “Chicago's residents would be much safer if Pritzker actually did his job and addressed his crime problem instead of trying to be a Resistance Lib hero.”
The rhetoric has only grown more heated as federal officials hint at imminent action. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told Fox News Radio that her department would send a “strike team” to Chicago, “specifically targeting illegal criminals.” Meanwhile, Trump border czar Tom Homan confirmed to the Washington Examiner that discussions have taken place regarding the use of a naval base north of Chicago for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in the city.
Pritzker, for his part, pointed to previous ICE operations in Chicago as evidence of the disruption such actions can cause. “Frankly, right here in Little Village, businesses had to close, people had to stay home — people who are U.S. citizens, by the way, because they're afraid of being snatched off the streets and disappeared by people wearing masks and throwing them into vans,” he told CBS News. He insisted that any deployment of troops alongside ICE agents would be met with swift legal action. “We hope that they don’t send any troops along with ICE, and if they do, they’ll be in court pretty quickly because that is illegal. Posse Comitatus does not allow U.S. troops into U.S. cities to do — you know, to fight crime, to be involved in law enforcement.”
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has also taken steps to preempt any federal intervention. Over the weekend, Johnson signed an executive order prohibiting the Chicago Police Department from collaborating with military personnel on police patrols or civil immigration enforcement. “This order affirms that the Chicago Police Department will not collaborate with military personnel on police patrols or civil immigration enforcement,” Johnson stated. “We will not have our police officers, who are working hard every single day to drive down crime, deputized to do traffic stops and checkpoints for the president.”
The legal questions surrounding such deployments are complex. While the president has direct control over the D.C. National Guard, the governors of the 50 states typically control their own Guard forces, except in certain circumstances. In June, the Trump administration deployed thousands of California National Guard members to Los Angeles over Governor Gavin Newsom’s objections, arguing the move was necessary to protect federal immigration agents and facilities during protests. California sued, calling the deployment illegal, but an appeals court found that the president likely did have the legal authority under a statute that permits calling Guard forces into federal service during a “rebellion” or if the president cannot “execute the laws of the United States.”
Pritzker has drawn historical parallels to underscore his concerns, referencing his work in building a Holocaust museum and the dangers posed by authoritarian regimes. “We could talk about lots of authoritarian regimes in the world, but that just happens to be the one that I know. And I can tell you that — that the playbook is the same: It's thwart the media, it's create mayhem that requires military interdiction. These are things that happen throughout history, and Donald Trump is just following that playbook.”
As the debate rages on, Chicago’s residents and leaders are bracing for what could be a significant test of federal and state powers, as well as the boundaries of executive authority. With the possibility of National Guard troops arriving as early as September, and legal challenges likely to follow, all eyes are on the Midwest’s largest city — and its embattled leaders — as they navigate a moment fraught with political, legal, and social uncertainty.
For now, Pritzker remains resolute: “I plan to do everything I can to stop him from taking away people's rights and from using the military to invade states. It's very important for us all to stand up.”
