The streets of Chicago are once again in the spotlight after another violent weekend left six people dead and dozens more injured.
As Illinois grapples with rising gun violence, the question of federal intervention has become a flashpoint between Governor JB Pritzker and former President Donald Trump.
Trump has criticized Pritzker for being “weak and pathetic” on crime after last weekend’s shootings, which also saw another six people shot early Sunday near South State Street. Posting on Truth Social, Trump wrote:
“Six people were killed, and 24 people were shot, in Chicago last weekend. JB Pritzker, the weak and pathetic Governor of Illinois, just said that he doesn’t need help in preventing CRIME.
He is CRAZY!!! He better straighten it out, FAST, or we’re coming! MAGA.”
Pritzker Warns of a Potential “Invasion”
In response, Governor Pritzker pushed back against the idea of deploying National Guard troops to Chicago, calling it an “invasion” if Trump were to follow through.
Speaking with CBS’ Ed O’Keefe on Face The Nation, Pritzker said:
“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.”
The Illinois governor suggested that the president’s interest in the city goes beyond crime prevention, hinting at political motives linked to upcoming elections.
Political Motives and Election Concerns
Pritzker warned that federal troop deployments could be used to influence the 2026 midterm elections.
“The other aims are that he’d like to stop the elections in 2026, or frankly take control of those elections,” Pritzker explained.
“He’ll just claim that there’s some problem with an election and then he’s got troops on the ground that can take control if in fact he’s allowed to do this.”
The governor’s concerns echo prior incidents where Trump sent federal agents and National Guard forces into cities like Los Angeles without consulting local leaders.
These interventions were framed as crime crackdowns but often coincided with broader policy initiatives, including mass deportations of undocumented immigrants.
Trump’s Federal Crackdowns and Their Impact
Earlier this month, Trump deployed 2,000 National Guard troops and federalized police in Washington, DC. Since then, law enforcement has made over 1,000 arrests, with nearly half targeting illegal immigrants under Homeland Security operations.
Trump praised the DC operation as a success, claiming the city became “virtually, in just 14 days, a CRIME FREE ZONE,” and that residents were “ecstatic.”
Alongside Chicago, the former president has floated plans to send federal troops to other major cities, including New York, Baltimore, and Oakland, as part of his broader crime and immigration enforcement agenda.
A Growing National Debate
As violence surges in cities like Chicago, the clash between state authority and federal intervention is heating up.
While some see federal involvement as a necessary tool to combat crime, others—including Pritzker—warn of potential overreach and political motives.
With both sides digging in, Chicago may become the next battleground in the national debate over security, federal power, and the integrity of upcoming elections.
