Trump calls to jail Chicago, Illinois leaders as National Guard deployment looms

President Donald Trump demanded that Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker be jailed for impeding federal immigration enforcement. The demand was made as National Guard troops were deploying near Chicago, fueling worries of a confrontation between federal and local law enforcement.


President Donald Trump acutely escalated his conflict with Chicago and Illinois authorities on Tuesday by publicly demanding that Mayor Brandon Johnson and Governor J.B. Pritzker be put in jail. From the White House, Trump faulted the Democratic party leaders for "endangering federal officers" by upholding Chicago's "ICE Free Zone" policy — an executive order restricting cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

"Brandon Johnson and J.B. Pritzker need to be arrested for aiding and abetting lawlessness," Trump declared. "You can't obstruct federal power and get away with it."

Neither Johnson nor Pritzker is charged with any crime. Both officials criticized Trump's statements as political and perilous, stating that such language disrespects democratic institutions. "This is a threat, not governance," Johnson added during a press conference. "Chicago will not be bullied into submission by federal intimidation."

The president's remarks came hours after reports indicated that National Guard troops from Texas had been deployed to Illinois. Trump has asserted that the deployment is required to "restore law and order" and safeguard federal buildings, but state officials argue the action infringes on constitutional prohibitions against military intervention in local matters.

Governor Pritzker announced Illinois was taking legal steps to oppose the deployment. "The president does not have the power to deploy troops to our cities without state approval," he said. Lawyers cite the Posse Comitatus Act, which limits the military's use in civilian law enforcement, as a possible foundation for any legal challenge.

The White House justified its move, invoking the Insurrection Act, a little-used statute that permits presidents to send federal troops in the midst of extreme civil disturbance. However, critics argue that no such scenario exists in Chicago to warrant taking that action.

A new Reuters/Ipsos survey out Wednesday indicated that 58% of Americans are against sending National Guard troops into U.S. cities without the approval of states, while just 29% favor doing so. Disapproval was strongest among Democrats (72%) and independents (61%), while Republicans were divided evenly.

"The optics of deploying troops into a large American city are awful," commented political analyst Amy Walter. "It resonates with Trump's base, but repels moderates who view it as a reckless overreach."

Demonstrations broke out throughout Chicago on Tuesday night as citizens responded to the president's comments. Activists and civil rights organizations criticized Trump for using federal authority to intimidate political opponents.


Legal analysts and civil liberties groups have cautioned that Trump's demands to "put political rivals in jail" may break the First Amendment and the separation of powers. "Threatening elected leaders with prosecution for policy differences is inherently antidemocratic," explained Laurence Tribe, a constitutional law scholar at Harvard.

The Department of Justice has not commented on whether Trump’s statements reflect any pending investigations. Insiders suggest the remarks were intended to rally conservative supporters frustrated by the ongoing government shutdown and immigration disputes.

Meanwhile, both Johnson and Pritzker have gained national attention for their defiant response. “This isn’t about law and order,” Pritzker said. “It’s about power and fear. And we’re not afraid.”

The showdown in Illinois comes in the context of a larger national upheaval. The government shutdown in Washington reached its second week on Tuesday, stopping paychecks for hundreds of thousands of federal employees and putting key releases of economic data in freeze. Washington's political standoff deepened partisan divisions in Washington as Democrats accused Trump of refusing to budge on spending requests linked to border security.

On the foreign policy front, Trump is also pursuing his Gaza ceasefire plan, pressuring Israel and Hamas to reach an agreement in Egypt. The White House maintains that domestic instability won't take attention away from the president's international agenda, although senior officials acknowledge the political unrest domestically is making diplomatic engagement more difficult.


The confrontation between federal and Illinois officials is likely to escalate rapidly into the courts if Trump goes ahead with troop deployment or tries to pressure prosecutors to act against state officials.

Trump's move is being analyzed as a test of the boundaries of federal authority and a possible precedent for executive intervention in local affairs.

“The stakes couldn’t be higher,” said political historian Douglas Brinkley. “We’re watching a stress test of American federalism unfold in real time.”

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1. Why did President Trump call for the arrest of Chicago’s mayor and Illinois's governorTrump accused Mayor Brandon Johnson and Governor J.B. Pritzker of obstructing federal immigration enforcement by maintaining Chicago’s “ICE Free Zone” policy.
2. Are Mayor Johnson and Governor Pritzker facing any criminal charges?No. Neither official has been charged with any crime; Trump’s comments are seen as political statements.
3. Why is the National Guard being deployed near Chicago?The White House claims it’s to “restore law and order,” but Illinois officials argue it’s unconstitutional without state consent.
4. What laws govern the president’s power to deploy troops in U.S. cities?The Insurrection Act allows deployment during extreme unrest, but the Posse Comitatus Act limits the use of military forces in civilian law enforcement.