President Donald Trump escalated his confrontation with Illinois officials Saturday, posting on Truth Social a stark warning that federal authorities were “coming” while targeting Governor JB Pritzker over Chicago’s recent weekend violence.
The threat comes as Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson simultaneously signed an executive order directing city agencies to resist federal immigration enforcement operations, setting up a confrontation between local and federal authorities.
Newsweek reached out to Gov. Priztker’s office via email on Saturday for comment.
Why It Matters
This warning marks the latest in Trump’s sustained attacks on Chicago’s leadership despite the city’s improved crime statistics.
In a Truth Social post earlier this week, Trump wrote: “A really DEADLY weekend in Chicago. 6 DEAD, 27 HURT IN CRIME SPREES ALL OVER THE CITY. Panic stricken Governor Pritzker says that crime is under control, when in fact it is just the opposite. He is an incompetent Governor who should call me for HELP. Mayor Johnson is no better. Make Chicago Great Again!”
However, on Monday, Johnson’s office released updated year-to-date crime statistics that showed homicides are down 32.3 percent, and overall violent crime is down 21.6 percent.
What To Know
“Six people were killed, and 24 people shot, in Chicago last weekend, and JB Pritzker, the weak and pathetic Governor of Illinois, just said that he doesn’t need help in preventing CRIME. He is CRAZY!!! He better straighten it out, FAST, or we’re coming!” the president wrote on Truth Social Saturday.
Johnson’s executive order prohibits Chicago police from participating in joint operations with federal immigration agents and requires federal officers operating in the city to wear body cameras and clear identification. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has requested support from Naval Station Great Lakes, located north of Chicago, though no official deployment decisions have been made.
Trump recently signed an executive order establishing “specialized units” within the National Guard to address urban crime, though implementation details remain unclear. Johnson’s order explicitly calls on Trump to “stand down” from military deployments, warning residents may face “militarized immigration enforcement” and “National Guard troops” in city streets.
Pritzker has condemned the federal plans, accusing the administration of attempting to “militarize our cities and end elections.” The mayor’s reported order is part of a broader resistance movement among Democratic leaders who argue that federal intervention undermines local governance and civil liberties.
Scott Olson/Getty Images
What People Are Saying
Illinois Democratic Governor JB Pritzker in a press conference this week: “If this was really about fighting crime and making the streets safe, what possible justification could the White House have for planning such an exceptional action without any conversations or consultations with the governor, the mayor, or the police?”
Pritzker said on X after reposting the video of his press conference: “Donald Trump is exactly the kind of person that our founders warned us about. He cozies up to dictators like Putin because he idolizes them. His actions are dangerous and un-American.”
He posted on X the day before: “Unlike Donald Trump, we keep our promises. We will not stand idly by if he decides to send the National Guard to intimidate Chicagoans. Action will be met with a response.”
In an email statement to Newsweek on Saturday afternoon, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said: “If these Democrats focused on fixing crime in their own cities instead of doing publicity stunts to criticize the President, their communities would be much safer. Cracking down on crime should not be a partisan issue, but Democrats suffering from TDS [Trump Derangement Syndrome] are trying to make it one. They should listen to fellow Democrat Mayor Muriel Bowser who recently celebrated the Trump Administration’s success in driving down violent crime in Washington DC.”
Vice President JD Vance said on Thursday in LaCrosse, Wisconsin: “We’re not too far from Chicago. Chicago has had a lot of crime problems. Why is it that you have mayors and governors who are angrier about Donald Trump offering to help them than they are about the fact that their own residents are being carjacked and murdered in the streets? It doesn’t make an ounce of sense.”
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said before signing the executive order, per CNN: “We may see militarized immigration enforcement. We may also see National Guard troops. We may even see active duty military and armed vehicles in our streets. We have not called for this. Our people have not asked for this, but nevertheless, we find ourselves having to respond to this.”
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