A heated battle of words has erupted between President Donald Trump and the leaders of Illinois, with Trump taking to social media to suggest that Chicago's Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker "should be in jail" for their alleged failure to protect ICE agents. This controversial statement comes amidst the arrival of Texas National Guard troops in Illinois, a move that has sparked outrage among Democratic leaders and the Chicago Mayor.
Governor Pritzker stood firm, stating, "We will use every lever at our disposal to stop this power grab. Military troops should not be used against American communities." Mayor Johnson echoed these sentiments, declaring that Trump had "declared war on Chicago" and that the federal government was "out of control."
Trump's response was swift and direct, targeting both Johnson and Pritzker in his social media posts. Johnson, in turn, highlighted Trump's history of targeting Black men, stating, "I'm not going anywhere." Pritzker, too, refused to back down, questioning Trump's path towards authoritarianism.
The back-and-forth between these Illinois leaders has intensified after Trump's conditional threat to invoke the Insurrection Act, a powerful tool dating back to 1807 that allows the president to deploy the military and federalize National Guard units to suppress civil disorder. Trump's comments to reporters suggest he is considering this option, stating, "If I had to enact it, I'd do it."
The Texas National Guard's presence in Chicago has been observed, with groups of soldiers seen at an Army Reserve training center. Governor Pritzker has called on Texas Governor Abbott to withdraw his support for this decision, but Abbott has authorized the deployment, stating it is to "ensure safety for federal officials."
The lawsuit filed by the state of Illinois and the City of Chicago seeks to block this military deployment, arguing that the American people should not live under the threat of military occupation, especially due to a president's personal preferences. This lawsuit highlights the perilous nature of President Trump's actions, as he seeks to blur the lines between the military and domestic affairs.
