Illinois Gov. Pritzker: ‘Trump Will Do Everything to Distract from Epstein Files’/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Illinois Governor JB Pritzker expressed concern that President Trump may escalate tensions or provoke conflict to divert public attention from damaging documents linking him to Jeffrey Epstein. Pritzker warned that Trump’s tactics could include extreme actions like military intervention. The Democratic governor also criticized fellow Democrats for compromising during a recent government shutdown.
Pritzker Epstein Concerns: Quick Looks
- JB Pritzker fears Trump could provoke war for distraction
- Governor says Epstein document release could be “devastating”
- Pritzker warns of dangerous tactics amid political pressure
- Criticizes Democrats for siding with GOP during shutdown vote
- Refuses to call for Chuck Schumer’s resignation
- Calls Trump “a narcissist” and claims he “has dementia”
- Points to aggressive ICE raids in Chicago suburbs
- Predicts federal crackdown could expand to cities like Charlotte
- Cautions against “militarization” of American cities under Trump
Illinois Gov. Pritzker: ‘Trump Will Do Everything to Distract from Epstein Files’
Deep Look
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker voiced strong concerns this week about how President Donald Trump may react to recent revelations tying him to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In a candid interview with The Associated Press, Pritzker said he fears the president could engage in extreme political or military actions to shift public focus away from damaging reports.
“My great fear, of course, is that with the release of that information, which I think will be devastating for Trump, he’s going to do everything in his power to distract,” said Pritzker. “What does that mean? I mean, he might take us to war with Venezuela just to get a distraction in the news.”
The comments came shortly after documents surfaced suggesting that Trump had knowledge of Epstein’s criminal behavior.
In a 2019 email released this week, Epstein claimed that Trump “knew about the girls,” although the specifics remain unclear. The White House responded by accusing Democrats of selectively leaking information to smear the president.
Pritzker, a potential Democratic contender for the 2028 presidential race, has long been an outspoken critic of Trump. On Wednesday, he did not hold back in his characterization of the president, describing him as “a narcissist” and asserting that Trump “has dementia.”
His comments add to the growing Democratic alarm over Trump’s recent political moves, which Pritzker believes are designed not just to enforce immigration law, but to sow fear and shift narratives.
The Illinois governor said he has watched Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement unfold firsthand, particularly through “Operation Midway Blitz,” which has seen federal forces descend on Chicago and surrounding areas. Since the operation began in September, more than 3,300 people suspected of immigration violations have been detained, with reports of nighttime raids, tear gas, and even helicopters involved.
“This is part of the militarization of our American cities that Donald Trump is engaging in,” Pritzker warned. “And it’s dangerous. It shouldn’t happen, but he’s got a purpose behind it. And it’s to affect our elections in 2026.”
Pritzker believes Trump’s strategy hinges on fear and chaos to strengthen his political position. He added that the immigration crackdown in Chicago is only the beginning, saying that similar operations are likely to spread to other cities, including Charlotte, North Carolina.
The governor said he spoke recently with North Carolina Governor Josh Stein, amid reports that federal agents may soon be deployed to Charlotte.
“I’m hoping that the pushback will finally lead them to ratchet down their efforts,” he said.
Pritzker’s criticism extended beyond the Republican administration. He also called out members of his own party for what he described as political surrender during a recent Senate vote to end the government shutdown.
Seven Democratic senators and one independent joined Republicans in supporting the measure, a decision Pritzker labeled “an enormous mistake.” Among those who voted for the deal was Illinois Senator Dick Durbin.
“I’ve been on team fight from the very beginning,” said Pritzker. “And I don’t appreciate when we’ve got Democrats who are caving in and doing basically what the Trump administration wants.”
While he declined to support calls for Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer to step down, Pritzker did not shy away from rebuking the senators who supported the compromise.
“We were winning,” he said, referencing the strong performance by Democrats in recent elections. “I do not understand why people caved when we were on the verge of getting real change.”
Pritzker’s sharp rhetoric, both toward Trump and dissenting Democrats, signals his rising influence in the national political conversation. As speculation mounts about 2028, his voice is increasingly being heard not only as a governor but as a prominent figure shaping Democratic messaging for the post-Trump era.
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