The Democratic governor of Illinois, home to Chicago, issued a warning on Sunday about what he termed an “invasion” by the U.S. military in the major northern city. This comes in light of President Donald Trump’s plans to deploy the National Guard with the stated goal of combating crime.
Governor J.B. Pritzker, who has previously labeled the Republican president a “dictator,” accused him of seeking to “stop” and “control” the upcoming midterm elections set for November 2026.
Following deployments in Los Angeles in June and Washington since mid-August, the Trump administration announced intentions to send National Guard troops to other Democrat-led cities, including Chicago, New York, Baltimore, and Boston.
Taking advantage of Chicago’s crime issues, Trump criticized what he called the “soft and terrible” approach of Illinois’ governor on his platform, Truth Social. He stated, “He claims he doesn’t need help to stop crime… That’s insane! He needs to fix this situation quickly, or we’ll intervene!”
Governor Pritzker, who shares authority over the National Guard units stationed in Illinois with the other 49 state governors, noted, “No one from the government, neither the president nor anyone under his command, has contacted me, anyone in my administration, or the City of Chicago.”
He further cautioned, “It is clear that they are secretly planning an invasion with U.S. troops,” emphasizing that legal action would be sought should military forces be deployed.
In response, Chicago’s Democratic Mayor Brandon Johnson has signed an executive order to limit the powers of federal law enforcement should they arrive in the city.
The mayor of the crime-stricken city stated, “We are forced to take strict measures to protect our residents from the expansion of federal authority.”
Both Pritzker and Maryland’s Governor Wes Moore, from the eastern state where Baltimore is located, accused the conservative Republican president of “manufacturing crises” to justify sending federal troops into Democratic-run states. Pritzker even alleged that Trump has “other goals,” including a desire to disrupt or potentially control the 2026 elections.
The Democratic official warned that “he will claim there are voting issues, then deploy forces to exert control.”