White House Criticizes Illinois Leaders Amid Crime Concerns
The White House intensified its conflict with Illinois Democratic leaders on Wednesday, airing a video aimed at Chicago’s Mayor Brandon Johnson and Governor JB Pritzker.
In the video, President Donald Trump, showcasing images of police and immigration officials, labeled Chicago as “chaos.” He stated, “We have an incompetent mayor, totally incompetent. We have a governor who refuses to admit we have a problem. It’s clear to everyone how dire the situation is.” He went on to blame open border policies for a surge of fentanyl and illegal drugs, describing it as a significant law enforcement challenge the nation has ever faced.
Later, the video featured Rev. Corey Brooks, who appeared on Fox News and mentioned the persistent issues with violent crime in Chicago, appealing to the president for the National Guard’s deployment. He remarked, “We need to invite President Trump…254 people have died in 233 days; claiming people are safe is a total lie.”
Returning to Trump, he emphasized Chicago’s urgent need for assistance, saying, “They really need help. We don’t want to lose Chicago. We’re going to lose Chicago. We want to save these people.” His tone became more intense as he declared that “we’re not going to allow this kind of barbarism to destroy our society anymore.”
Hours after these remarks, Trump also took to Truth Social, calling for Johnson and Pritzker to be imprisoned for “failing to protect” ICE workers. He insisted, “The Mayor of Chicago should go to jail for failing to protect his ICE workers! Governor Pritzker too!”
Pritzker responded to Trump’s comments, indicating that both Illinois leaders were at odds with the president concerning immigration enforcement and his recent decision to send the National Guard to Chicago amidst escalating anti-ICE protests. This week, the Texas National Guard began operations in Illinois, slated for the first 60 days of deployment.
Pritzker has reportedly claimed that Trump “doesn’t read” and criticized him, saying, “This guy has something stuck in his head, and he can’t get it out. He doesn’t read. He doesn’t know anything current.” Pritzker expressed concern over Trump’s military powers, stating that the president possesses authority to follow through with his orders.
