Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has voiced a startling allegation regarding Donald Trump’s military actions.
Earlier this year, the President of the United States directed military forces to patrol the streets of Washington, DC, in August as part of efforts to address crime and homelessness.
In September, Trump hinted that Chicago would be the next target, stating the city would ‘find out why it’s called the Department of WAR’ in relation to his rebranding of the Department of Defense.
During a recent address to military leaders, Trump suggested a plan to deploy troops in Democrat-led cities, which he described as ‘very unsafe places,’ with the administration seeking to ‘straighten them out one by one’.
Trump specifically mentioned that these cities were experiencing a ‘war from within,’ attributing immigration as a significant threat to national security in this context.
“We should use some of these dangerous cities as training grounds for our military – National Guard, but our military, because we’re going into Chicago very soon,” he added. “That’s a big city with an incompetent governor.”
In response, Democratic Illinois Governor JB Pritzker criticized the Trump administration’s move to deploy the National Guard to states as an ‘invasion’.
In a Twitter post, Pritzker mentioned that 400 members from the Texas National Guard would be sent to Illinois and Oregon to address anti-ICE protests and crime.
“We must now start calling this what it is: Trump’s Invasion,” Pritzker said. “No officials from the federal government called me directly to discuss or coordinate.
“It started with federal agents, it will soon include deploying federalized members of the Illinois National Guard against our wishes, and it will now involve sending in another state’s military troops.”
Soon after the governor’s comments, it was reported that a court hearing in Oregon resulted in Judge Karin Immergut blocking the deployment of National Guard troops to Portland.
She temporarily halted the government from sending National Guard units to the city, including those from the California National Guard.
California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the decision to send 200 troops, previously stationed in Los Angeles, to respond to anti-immigration protests in Portland, labeling it as ‘a blatant abuse of the law and power’.
The judge dismissed Trump’s characterization of the city as ‘war-ravaged,’ stating that small protests do not warrant the use of federal forces.
She further emphasized that deploying the Guard could undermine Oregon’s state sovereignty.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek noted that around 100 troops had arrived on Saturday (October 4), with another 100 expected on Sunday.
She stated: “The facts on the ground in Oregon haven’t changed.
“There’s no need for military intervention in Oregon. There’s no insurrection in Portland, there’s no threat to national security.”
Trump has focused on states with liberal governors, asserting that Portland is ‘burning to the ground’ on Sunday (October 5), and previously calling Illinois ‘the world’s most dangerous city’.
Pritzker has urged Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott to ‘immediately withdraw any support for this decision and refuse to coordinate’.
He commented: “There is no reason a president should send military troops into a sovereign state without their knowledge, consent, or cooperation.
“The brave men and women who serve in our national guards must not be used as political props. This is a moment where every American must speak up and help stop this madness.”
Abbott responded on Twitter: “You can either fully enforce protection for federal employees or get out of the way and let Texas Guard do it.”
Contact has been made with the White House for comment.