On Sunday, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker brought up an unusual conspiracy theory regarding President Trump’s potential plan to send federal troops to Chicago and other cities experiencing high crime rates.
Pritzker confidently suggested that Trump’s motivations go beyond just tackling crime. “He wants to suspend elections,” he stated. “He’ll claim there’s an election issue and then have forces in place to take control.”
In response, the White House dismissed Pritzker’s assertions. Abigail Jackson, a spokesperson, pointed out the long-standing crime problem in Chicago, emphasizing that the city has had more murders than any other in the U.S. for thirteen consecutive years. She noted that Chicago has also recovered more illegal firearms than New York and Los Angeles combined.
As of Saturday, Chicago was under a surge of violence, with reports of 35 shootings and five fatalities over the Labor Day weekend. In 2024, the city registered 573 murders, compared to 377 in New York and 268 in LA, resulting in a murder rate of about 22 per 100,000 in Chicago, significantly higher than LA and NYC.
While these numbers are alarming, some other cities, like Detroit and Washington, D.C., have higher murder rates. Jackson argued that Chicago residents would feel safer if Pritzker focused on crime instead of grandstanding as a “liberal hero.”
Pritzker’s unsubstantiated claims suggest Trump may soon deploy the National Guard in what he refers to as a “murder site” and “hell.” Over the weekend, Trump called Pritzker “weak and pathetic,” downplaying the need for the National Guard in Chicago.
He warned that if Pritzker doesn’t address the crime situation quickly, federal action could become necessary. Trump’s remarks came in the wake of ten violent incidents in Chicago during a particularly brutal weekend.
Pritzker argued that deploying troops in American cities is only justified in cases of rebellion or genuine emergencies, threatening legal action against the Trump administration if such a deployment occurs. He claimed it would be an “invasion” of the U.S. military, vowing to challenge it in court.
Homeland Security Secretary Christie Noem criticized Pritzker for focusing on his ego instead of public safety. “This seems about his pride, not protecting the people,” she remarked, suggesting Pritzker should reach out to Trump for solutions.
Earlier this month, Trump had sent multiple National Guard units to Washington, D.C., resulting in a reported 45% drop in violent crime and an 87% decrease in carjackings since he declared a criminal emergency there. He had also previously dispatched troops to California amid riots, withdrawing them shortly after.
Pritzker has indicated a willingness to accept federal assistance, expressing the need for more ATF agents to combat gun violence while hoping for FBI collaboration with local law enforcement to catch offenders.
However, he expressed skepticism about the current federal intentions. The White House has yet to respond to requests for comments on the situation.
