Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker says sending military troops to Chicago would be an "invasion" by Trump administration
Source: CBS News
Updated on: August 29, 2025 / 8:37 PM EDT
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker told CBS News the Trump administration has not communicated with his state on a reported plan to send military forces to Chicago, calling the idea an "invasion" and arguing President Trump has "other aims" aside from cracking down on crime. Asked about a possible military deployment to America's third-largest city, which was recently reported by The Washington Post, Pritzker told CBS News: "It's clear that, in secret, they're planning this well, it's an invasion with U.S. troops, if they, in fact, do that."
Mr. Trump has deployed National Guard forces and federal agents to the streets of two other major cities Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. in recent months, part of what the president casts as a crackdown against illegal immigration, violent crime and civil unrest. Last week, the president said his administration could take similar steps in Chicago. Mr. Trump called the city a "mess" and lashed out against Mayor Brandon Johnson, saying, "We'll straighten that one out probably next."
Mr. Trump is planning major immigration enforcement operations in Chicago that could start as soon as next week, echoing a similar operation in Los Angeles, sources told CBS News. And The Washington Post has reported that the Pentagon is drawing up plans to potentially send thousands of National Guard members to the Midwest's largest metro area as early as September though those plans haven't been publicly confirmed.
Pritzker told CBS News that, if Mr. Trump sends the Guard to Chicago, voters "should understand that he has other aims, other than fighting crime." The governor argued that the president's gambit may be part of a plan to "stop the elections in 2026 or, frankly, take control of those elections." He also called the idea "an attack on the American people."
Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/illinois-gov-pritzker-military-national-guard-chicago-invasion-trump/

travelingthrulife
(3,268 posts)Did Big Balls get beat up by a teenage boy and girl in Chicago as well?
snowybirdie
(6,338 posts)Have CPD pull guns on the arriving guards? Put a thousand CPD surrounding Great Lakes Naval Base and trap them inside? I'm afraid he only has the Courts and public opinion to fight this menace. Chicago doesn't want violence to break out.
Bluetus
(1,550 posts)Before Trump has a chance to. Trump might still try to argue he has the right to override the Governors. But if the Governors get there first, that would place the Guard in the position of having to disobey the Governor's order, which would probably be a violation of their oath.
We should be WELCOMING this kind of "Constitutional crisis." Dems have been running and hiding every time somebody uses the term "Constitutional crisis", and THAT is what has allowed Trump to run roughshod over the Constitution.
We NEED to confront these Constitutional crises head on and force the media and public to face this monster.
Seinan Sensei
(1,138 posts)Reportedly it took only one 15-yr-old girl to kick Big Ballss balls in DC
marble falls
(68,589 posts)Haggard Celine
(17,471 posts)It's exhausting! How does he keep up with all the shit he's starting? He must be on speed or meth or something. He sure looks like Hell these days.
sop
(16,048 posts)ForgoTheConsequence
(5,082 posts)That's a weird way to repel an invasion.
mopinko
(72,959 posts)cuz hes publicly called for ppl to b in the streets.
LeftInTX
(34,006 posts)He needs to call the IL NG.
can he do that legally?
Gore1FL
(22,601 posts)I can't wait until Fall when they go to Northern California to rake the forests.
beyondtimes
(17 posts)Be deployed to the south side of Chicago to intervene between the crips and the bloods gang members?
beyondtimes
(17 posts)I was in Chicago I walked about freely all over downtown and the north side. I didnt see any muggings, murders, robberies. I am sure most of the crime statistics are mostly car thefts, people stealing amazon packages. Man hole cover thefts(S). Lots of domestic violence. Drug deals gone bad. Lots of white collar crime. Im sure the national guard or maybe the marines can fix that problem.
mopinko
(72,959 posts)i can count the number of crimes ive been a victim to on 1 hand. car theft (found shortly after), attempted phone theft (on the cta. i chased the little fucker down and got it back.) and my house was broken into. the cops had already arrested the guy by the time the evidence techs were done. meth head, who was picked up for obviously high behavior.
raised 5 kids here. besides school bullying, 1 of them had his phone stolen. thats it.
it used to b most murders were gang members, tho thats not as isolated as it used to b. there r spots in my hood i know better than to go, but its block by block.
eta- i doubt these troops will b going where the actual crimes happen. theyll prolly b milling around downtown. theyd b welcome on the cta by most ppl, tho.
PATRICK
(12,298 posts)This is legally tricky, so some innocence is needed, possibly good humor.
A satirical welcome parade and deliveries of rakes and garbage bags. Their roads can suddenly be subject to public works projects. Special holiday. Ridiculous curfews, shutting down selective services. Noise. Blockages. Nonsense. Stuff to defuse, make people smile without harm to a nervous and already victimized National Guard. Throw parties, see if any of them need assistance in their real lives.
The truculent approach epitomized by Alabama's angry attitude to the National Guard when Eisenhower sent them in to protect schoolchildren during desegregation should be reversed. Hey, that catapulted Gov. Wallace into a perpetual nuisance against his fellow Democrats. What have we learned?
beyondtimes
(17 posts)Would be needed to police 234 square miles and a population of 2.7 million people?
intrepidity
(8,445 posts)Invoke state's rights up the wazoo and use that power for good. There are myriad examples to draw from, now use them.