Be loud for America
By 
Trump is preparing to send troops into Illinois not only without the invitation of the governor but in the face of his active opposition:
President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he plans to send National Guard troops to fight crime in Chicago, which would mark an extraordinary effort to militarize yet another Democratic-led city.
Trump’s comments come just hours after a federal judge blocked Trump’s administration from using the military to fight crime in California.
“We’re going in. I didn’t say when, but we’re going in,” Trump told reporters gathered in the Oval Office.
Trump at one point said he would “love to have” Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker call and request troops, but “we’re going to do it anyway.”
“We have the right to do it,” Trump said, adding that the federal intervention would extend to Baltimore as well.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said over the weekend that Chicago police will not collaborate with any National Guard troops or federal agents if Trump deploys them to the city in coming days as he has threatened in the past.
Pritzker, a Democrat whose name has also been floated as a possible 2028 presidential candidate, has previously said the president lacks the legal authority to deploy troops to his state if not requested by the governor.
Pritzker’s response shows that he continues to Get It as too many leaders at the federal level flounder:
Pritzker: "It breaks my heart to report that we have been told ICE will try to disrupt community picnics and peaceful parades. Let's be clear — the terror and cruelty is the point, not the safety of anybody living here."
[image or embed]— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) Sep 2, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Pritzker: "I refuse to pretend that any of this is normal … I refuse to fall into the pundit trap that demands we sacrifice vital constitutional rights if it's being done in the fake guise of fighting crime."
[image or embed]— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) Sep 2, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Illinois Gov. Pritzker ahead of Trump National Guard deployment: "To Chicagoans… Look out for your communities and your neighbours. Know your rights. Film things that you see happening… Authoritarians thrive on your silence. Be loud for America."
[image or embed]— Adam Schwarz (@adamjschwarz.bsky.social) Sep 2, 2025 at 1:22 PM
I agree that in addition to being true this serves two important purposes:
Pritzker is doing two things here that are smart. One, he's describing this forcefully and unapologetically and in his own terms, not adopting the Admin/media frame. Two, he's making clear that he will blame the Admin for any violence or disorder sparked by their invasion of his state.
[image or embed]— elias isquith (@eliasisquith.blog) Sep 2, 2025 at 1:20 PM
These deployments have nothing to do with “fighting crime” and any Democrat who accepts this framing is a useful idiot.