What started as yet another tense political disagreement has quickly turned into a full-blown war of words between the White House and a Midwestern governor.
President Donald Trump, never one to hold back his opinions, is now setting his sights on Illinois Governor JB Pritzker — and the exchange is getting personal.
During an Oval Office meeting on Monday, the president referred to Governor Pritzker as a “slob” and even suggested he “spend more time in the gym.”
The remarks immediately sparked backlash — and Pritzker was quick to return fire during his own press conference later that day.
Pritzker Hits Back With a Sharp Response in Chicago
Speaking from Chicago, Governor Pritzker didn’t hesitate to answer the president’s jab.
“From my perspective,” he said, “it takes one to know one on the weight question.”
He went on to add, “The president himself is not in good shape. He ought to respond to that.”
Pritzker’s response came only hours after Trump’s Oval Office remarks, and his tone made it clear that he wasn’t going to sit quietly while being insulted.
Talk of Troops Raises the Stakes
This heated back-and-forth didn’t come out of nowhere.
Just days earlier, President Trump had publicly floated the idea of sending National Guard troops into Chicago — following what he called a “successful crackdown” in Washington, D.C.
Trump had boasted that the deployment in D.C. led to over 1,000 arrests and the seizure of more than 100 illegal firearms, according to a post shared by Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Now, he’s turning his attention to Chicago and New York — two cities he has repeatedly criticized for crime and leadership.
“Chicago is a mess,” Trump said last week. “You have an incompetent mayor — grossly incompetent.
And we’ll straighten that one out probably next. That will be our next one after this, and it won’t even be tough.”
“If You Hurt My People…” — A Warning From the Governor
Governor Pritzker has made it clear that any move to send federal troops into his state will not go unanswered.
In a direct warning to the president, he said:
“If you hurt my people, nothing will stop me — not time or political circumstance — from making sure you face justice under our constitutional rule of law.”
His message reflected growing concern that the administration’s tactics could harm communities rather than protect them.
Black Mayors and Liberal Cities Feel Targeted
Meanwhile, critics of the president’s approach are raising broader concerns about the pattern behind his rhetoric. U.S. Representative LaMonica McIver of New Jersey has openly accused the president of deliberately targeting liberal cities led by Black mayors.
She pointed out that both Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson are Black, and she sees Trump’s rhetoric as racially charged.
McIver Says “Liberation Day” Is Not What It Seems
Speaking with Democratic election lawyer Marc Elias on the Defending Democracy Podcast, McIver described the president’s references to “Liberation Day” as coded language.
“When he says, ‘Oh, it’s Liberation Day,’ those are ways of him saying, ‘Oh, it’s white power,’” McIver argued. “Those are racist remarks.”
She believes the president’s language and tactics are not just about law and order — they’re part of a deeper racial and political strategy.
Immigration and Sanctuary Cities in the Crosshairs
McIver also said she believes Trump is specifically targeting sanctuary cities — places that offer protection to undocumented immigrants — as part of his broader crackdown.
“His number one targets are sanctuary cities that … support immigration,” she said.
According to McIver, the administration’s real goal is to provoke a reaction.
“Sic the military on the very people that they’re supposed to be protecting in these cities and then expect a certain response so that it can escalate — I truly believe that’s what the president hopes for.”
A Controversial Figure Faces Her Own Legal Battle
It’s worth noting that Congresswoman McIver is currently facing legal trouble herself.
She’s been charged with assaulting and interfering with federal officers during a protest at an ICE facility in New Jersey earlier this summer.
She has pleaded not guilty to three federal counts and is fighting to have the charges dismissed.
Despite her own legal situation, she remains outspoken about the president’s actions and motives.
A Political Storm Brewing Over Law, Race, and Power
The clash between President Trump, Governor Pritzker, and Congresswoman McIver is more than a simple exchange of insults — it’s part of a bigger national debate over race, immigration, and the use of federal force in American cities.
As talk of more troop deployments continues and political rhetoric grows sharper, both sides appear ready for a long and bitter fight — one that could shape the conversation heading into the next election year.
