US President Donald Trump on Saturday escalated his confrontation with Illinois officials, posting a blunt warning on Truth Social that federal authorities were “coming,” while directly targeting Governor JB Pritzker and slamming Chicago’s Democratic leadership.
The remarks came just hours after Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order instructing city agencies to resist federal immigration enforcement operations. The order also prohibits Chicago police from joining federal raids, while mandating that federal agents in the city wear body cameras and clear identification.
Trump’s warning to Pritzker
“Six people were killed, and 24 people shot, in Chicago last weekend, and 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!” Trump wrote.
Earlier this week, the president also blasted city officials, claiming Chicago had endured a “really DEADLY weekend,” despite Johnson’s office reporting a 32.3% drop in homicides and a 21.6% drop in overall violent crime compared to last year.
Federal vs local standoff
The exchange comes amid growing friction between Trump’s administration and Chicago’s leadership. Trump has already signed an executive order creating “specialized units” within the National Guard to tackle urban crime, though the specifics remain unclear.
Meanwhile, Johnson’s directive urges the president to “stand down” on potential military-style deployments, warning that city streets could see “militarized immigration enforcement” if federal plans advance.
Governor Pritzker has also condemned the White House’s approach, accusing the administration of attempting to “militarize our cities and end elections.”
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has reportedly sought logistical support from Naval Station Great Lakes, located north of Chicago, though no deployment decision has yet been finalized.
