Illinois Governor JB Pritzker criticized President Trump for attempting to “manufacture a crisis” amid reports of a potential National Guard deployment to Chicago.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, a Democrat, has stated that there is currently no emergency in the state, responding to reports that the federal government may deploy the National Guard to Chicago to combat crime. Pritzker accused President Donald Trump of trying to “manufacture a crisis” to further his political agenda.
In a statement released on Saturday, Pritzker emphasized that the State of Illinois has not received any requests for assistance from the federal government, nor has it made any requests for federal intervention. This announcement follows Trump’s recent efforts to increase the presence of federal law enforcement in Washington, D.C., aimed at reducing crime in the capital.
As part of this initiative, hundreds of federal agents and National Guard troops have been deployed to the streets of Washington, D.C. Now, Trump has indicated that Chicago could be the next target for a federal crackdown on crime.
According to reports from The Washington Post, the Pentagon has been planning a military deployment to Chicago for several weeks, which could involve mobilizing a few thousand National Guard troops as early as next month.
“The safety of the people of Illinois is always my top priority,” Pritzker remarked. “There is no emergency that warrants the President of the United States federalizing the Illinois National Guard, deploying the National Guard from other states, or sending active duty military within our own borders.”
Pritzker further accused Trump of attempting to politicize the military and distract from the challenges faced by working families. “We will continue to follow the law, stand up for the sovereignty of our state, and protect the people of Illinois,” he stated.
Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton also weighed in on the situation, asserting that Trump’s potential deployment of federal troops in Chicago demonstrates his willingness to create chaos for political gain. “As Lieutenant Governor and throughout my career, I’ve fervently fought for the reformation of our criminal legal system, and under the Pritzker-Stratton administration, we’ve made tremendous progress,” she said. “Crime in Chicago is declining, and there’s absolutely no rationale for this decision, other than to distract from the pain Trump is inflicting on working families with his dangerous agenda.”
Stratton emphasized that both she and Pritzker are committed to protecting the rights and freedoms of Illinois residents against any “storms of hate and fear” that may arise.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, also a Democrat, expressed concerns about the potential deployment of the National Guard, stating that it could exacerbate tensions between residents and law enforcement. “An unlawful deployment of the [National Guard] would be unsustainable and would threaten to undermine the historic progress we have made,” Johnson said in a statement on Friday. He noted that data indicates a significant decline in homicides, robberies, and shootings over the past year.
The ongoing debate over the potential National Guard deployment highlights the differing perspectives on how to address crime in Chicago and the broader implications of federal intervention in local matters.
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