Pritzker rejects Trump ultimatum, condemns federalization of Illinois National Guard amid Chicago protests [View all]

Source: WTVO-TV, WQRF-TV/Rockford, IL

Posted: Oct 4, 2025 / 12:56 PM CDT
Updated: Oct 4, 2025 / 12:57 PM CDT


CHICAGO, Ill. (WTVO) — Gov. JB Pritzker says 300 members of the Illinois National Guard will be sent to Chicago on Saturday, after he rejected an ultimatum from the Trump Administration to deploy the troops to protect federal agents in Chicago. According to a statement issued Saturday by the Governor’s Office, the Department of War gave Pritzker an ultimatum this morning to “call up your troops, or we will.”

“It is absolutely outrageous and un-American to demand a Governor send military troops within our own borders and against our will,” Pritzker said. “In the coming hours, the Trump Administration intends to federalize 300 members of the Illinois National Guard. They will pull hardworking Americans out of their regular jobs and away from their families all to participate in a manufactured performance — not a serious effort the protect public safety. For Donald Trump, this has never been about safety. This is about control,” the governor continued.

“This demand follows unprecedented escalations of aggression against Illinois citizens and residents. Yesterday, Kristi Noem’s and Greg Bovino’s masked agents threw chemical agents near an elementary school, arrested elected officials exercising their First Amendment rights, and raided a Wal-Mart. None of it was in pursuit of justice, but all of it was in pursuit of social media videos,” Pritzker continued.

“I want to be clear: there is no need for military troops on the ground in the State of Illinois. State, county, and local law enforcement have been working together and coordinating to ensure public safety around the Broadview ICE facility, and to protect people’s ability to peacefully exercise their constitutional rights. ​ I will not call up our National Guard to further Trump’s acts of aggression against our people,” he concluded.

Read more: https://www.mystateline.com/news/local-news/pritzker-rejects-trump-ultimatum-condemns-federalization-of-illinois-national-guard-amid-chicago-protests/