Illinois Governor JB Pritzker stated there’s no emergency situation, while President Donald Trump claimed he is “trying to manufacture a crisis” following reports of a potential deployment of the National Guard to Chicago due to crime concerns.
“Currently, Illinois has not received any requests or communication from the federal government seeking assistance. There have been no requests for federal intervention,” the governor explained in a statement on Saturday.
This comes after Trump attempted to increase the presence of federal law enforcement in Washington, D.C., aiming to combat crime there.
As part of this initiative, hundreds of federal agents and National Guard troops have been deployed to the streets of D.C.
Now, Trump suggests that Chicago might be the next location for a federal crackdown on crime.
According to the Washington Post, the Pentagon has been planning a military deployment to Chicago for several weeks, which may involve mobilizing thousands of National Guard troops next month.
“The safety of the people of Illinois has always been my top priority,” Pritzker noted. “There is no emergency that justifies the U.S. President using the Illinois State Guard, deploying National Guard troops from other states, or sending active-duty personnel to our borders.”
Pritzker accused Trump of “trying to create a crisis, politicizing those in uniforms, and abusing his power to distract from the pain he’s causing working families.”
“We will continue to uphold the law, respect our national sovereignty, and protect the residents of Illinois,” he added.
Democrat Juliana Stratton remarked that Trump’s potential deployment of federal forces to Chicago shows his willingness to create confusion for political gain.
Stratton said, “As lieutenant governor and throughout my career, I have worked diligently for criminal justice reform, and we’ve made progress. Crime in Chicago is decreasing, and there’s really no justification for this move besides deflecting attention from Trump’s harmful agenda.”
“Governor Pritzker, Illinois, I’m here to support your rights and freedom, and I stand against the storm of hatred and fear that may come our way,” she stated.
Chicago’s Democrat Mayor Brandon Johnson commented earlier, stating, “The National Guard’s involvement is unwarranted,” while also highlighting data indicating a noticeable decline in murders, robberies, and shootings over the past year.
