Illinois Gov. Pritzker rejects Trump National Guard plan for Chicago

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, a Democrat, said there is no emergency and President Donald Trump is “attempting to manufacture a crisis” after reports that the federal government may deploy the National Guard to Chicago to address crime in the city.

“The State of Illinois at this time has received no requests or outreach from the federal government asking if we need assistance, and we have made no requests for federal intervention,” the governor said in a statement on Saturday.

This comes after Trump’s move to boost the presence of federal law enforcement in Washington, D.C., in an attempt to reduce crime. Hundreds of federal agents and National Guard troops have been deployed to the streets of D.C. as part of the federal takeover of the district.

Now, Trump says Chicago could be his administration’s next target for a federal crackdown on crime.

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The Pentagon has planned a military deployment to Chicago for weeks, which could include mobilizing a few thousand National Guard troops next month, according to The Washington Post.

“The safety of the people of Illinois is always my top priority,” Pritzker said. “There is no emergency that warrants the President of the United States federalizing the Illinois National Guard, deploying the National Guard from other states, or sending active duty military within our own borders.” 

The governor also accused Trump of “attempting to manufacture a crisis, politicize Americans who serve in uniform, and continue abusing his power to distract from the pain he is causing working families.”

“We will continue to follow the law, stand up for the sovereignty of our state, and protect the people of Illinois,” he continued.

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