Illinois Governor JB Pritzker (D) expressed his frustration over President Trump’s recent suggestion that the governor sought help from him regarding crime in Chicago. This news came to light during a press conference on Tuesday.
“It’s disappointing for all citizens to think that the governor should be asking a political party’s president for resources that are rightfully owed to our people,” Pritzker stated. He questioned the appropriateness of the President insisting, on national television, that the state should ask for assistance, particularly for something they neither want nor need.
“Have we truly lost our grip on reality? Is this considered normal now?” he added.
During a briefing, Trump mentioned that if Governor Pritzker reached out for aid, he would appreciate it. “I would respect Gov. Pritzker. I said, ‘There’s an issue. I want to send in the troops,'” Trump remarked, underlining the need for protection.
Pritzker, a known critic of Trump, stated he wouldn’t reach out to the President, but voiced concerns that the White House was already planning to send National Guard troops to Chicago. He suggested that the administration aims to expand its law enforcement presence into other Democratic-led areas facing high crime rates.
Lt. Col. Juliana Stratton, D., accused the Trump administration of trying to create a crisis in Chicago to justify deploying the National Guard.
Last week, Tom Homan, a senior official in the White House, confirmed that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will be sending officers to Chicago following Labor Day.
Pritzker, Stratton, and local officials criticized the Trump administration for what they described as a lack of coordination. Pritzker noted the effectiveness of collaborations with federal agencies like the FBI, ATF, and DEA in addressing gang activity, gun trafficking, and drug cartels. He mentioned that, under the previous administration, they received regular updates to aid in these operations.
Looking back, Pritzker recalled how local leaders facilitated the Illinois National Guard’s deployment during last year’s Democratic National Convention. “The mayor and I received assurances at the highest levels of government. We committed to supporting efforts that ensured the safety of participants while respecting our First Amendment rights,” he concluded.
