Illinois Politicians Unite Against Trump’s Possible Deployment of National Guard
TL/DR –
Illinois politicians, including Governor JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson, have opposed President Trump’s plans to send the National Guard to Chicago. They underscore that there has been no official communication from the Trump administration regarding any such deployment and argue that it is unnecessary given the declining crime rate in the city. Despite this, President Trump has indicated that he is prepared to send troops regardless, without waiting to be asked by local officials.
Illinois Politicians Oppose Trump’s Intention to Deploy National Guard to Chicago
Illinois politicians voiced strong opposition against President Donald Trump’s plan to deploy National Guard troops to Chicago during a downtown press conference. ABC7 Chicago reported that although planning is underway, no official decision has been made by Pentagon officials.
Governor JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson stressed on Monday that this potential deployment is unnecessary as crime rates have been falling in Chicago. They further criticized the Trump Administration for not communicating with them about this matter.
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, Senators Dick Durbin, and Tammy Duckworth, along with several other civic, business, and religious leaders, were present at the conference, united in their criticism of the president’s idea. They argued that the presence of troops would disrupt local businesses and have a negative impact on the economy.
Pritzker criticized Trump’s intentions as a dangerous power grab, warning that using the military to occupy a U.S. city to stifle dissenters and score political points is a path towards authoritarianism. He suggested that federal intervention is unnecessary, given that crime rates are falling in Chicago.
According to Chicago Police Department statistics, violent crimes are down by 13% in 2025 compared to the average of the past three years. Shooting incidents have reduced by 31%, and murders are down by 27% during the same period.
However, some Republicans and conservative groups argue that crime is still a significant problem in Chicago and believe that the National Guard’s presence could help improve the situation.
Speculations of potential legal action against a possible deployment were also discussed at the press conference. However, it was suggested that preemptive legal action could be legally challenging.
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