Trump Calls for Arrest, Jail of Illinois Governor and Chicago Mayor/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump said Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson should be jailed for resisting his National Guard deployment tied to immigration enforcement. The explosive remarks intensify accusations of political retaliation and authoritarianism. Both officials condemned Trump’s comments and vowed to keep opposing federal overreach.
Trump vs. Chicago Leadership Quick Looks
- Trump says Gov. Pritzker and Mayor Johnson “should be in jail”
- Comments follow their opposition to National Guard deployment in Chicago
- Illinois and Chicago are suing to block federal troop action
- Trump administration intensifies immigration enforcement in Chicago
- Pritzker, Johnson accuse Trump of authoritarian behavior
- Shooting involving Border Patrol agent adds tension to situation
- Johnson: “Not the first time Trump targeted a Black man”
- DOJ already investigating multiple high-profile Trump critics
- Pritzker suggests Trump aims to disrupt 2026 elections
- Chicago labeled a “sanctuary city,” strengthening immigrant protections
Deep Look: Trump Demands Jail for Illinois Leaders Opposing National Guard in Chicago
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a dramatic escalation of his clash with Democratic state and city leaders, President Donald Trump on Wednesday publicly called for Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson to be jailed, accusing them of failing to protect federal immigration officers.
Trump made the incendiary remark in a Truth Social post, referencing the pair’s opposition to his deployment of National Guard troops to Chicago amid a wider immigration and crime crackdown.
“They should be in jail for failing to protect ICE officers!” Trump wrote.
The post is the latest in a long line of Trump’s calls to prosecute political adversaries, raising fresh alarms about his use of government power to target opponents — a trend that critics say undermines democratic norms and weaponizes federal institutions.
State and City Leaders Push Back
Both Pritzker and Johnson responded swiftly and forcefully:
- Mayor Brandon Johnson, posting on X (formerly Twitter), said:
“This is not the first time Trump has tried to have a Black man unjustly arrested. I’m not going anywhere.”
- Governor Pritzker also responded on X, saying:
“I will not back down. Trump is now calling for the arrest of elected representatives checking his power. What else is left on the path to full-blown authoritarianism?”
The two Democratic leaders have been vocal opponents of Trump’s federal deployments, filing a lawsuit to block National Guard troops recently positioned near Chicago by the Trump administration. Their resistance comes amid an aggressive push by Trump to escalate immigration enforcement operations in Chicago — a city he has often described as crime-ridden and lawless.
Tensions Rise Amid Border Patrol Shooting and Protests
The situation in and around Chicago has grown more volatile in recent days:
- A woman was shot by a Border Patrol agent over the weekend after allegedly using her vehicle to block and ram the agent’s car.
- The woman, Marimar Martinez, and a man, Anthony Ruiz, were both charged with assaulting a federal officer and later released pending trial.
- Martinez’s attorney disputes the government’s version of the event, citing body camera footage.
Meanwhile, protesters have clashed with federal agents outside a detention center in Broadview, as tensions rise over the federal presence in the region.
Broader Political Implications and DOJ Investigations
Trump’s statement came just as former FBI Director James Comey appeared in court to plead not guilty to charges brought by the Justice Department under Trump. Critics view the Comey case and others as part of a larger pattern of political retribution by the administration.
This year alone, the DOJ has opened criminal investigations into several Democratic figures — including Sen. Adam Schiff, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, all of whom deny wrongdoing and call the probes politically motivated.
Trump, during his 2024 campaign, openly declared:
“I am your retribution,” signaling his intent to punish perceived enemies if re-elected.
Pritzker: Trump Acting Like a Dictator
Pritzker, a frequent Trump critic and potential 2028 presidential contender, has likened Trump to Vladimir Putin, accusing him of authoritarian behavior and saying he may be suffering from dementia. The Illinois governor has argued that Trump’s efforts to militarize urban areas like Chicago are deliberate attempts to interfere with the 2026 election, especially in Democratic strongholds.
“He ought to be focused on bigger problems,” Pritzker told the AP in August.
“Sending troops into Chicago is a distraction — and an abuse of power.”
Chicago’s Sanctuary Status Under Fire
Chicago has long been a sanctuary city, limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Under Johnson, those protections have been expanded even further:
- Johnson recently signed an executive order prohibiting federal agents from using city-owned land for immigration operations.
- He has repeatedly called Trump’s actions unconstitutional, saying they violate state and local authority.
“Trump has declared war on our city,” Johnson said in May. “He has an animus toward people of color and toward women. He’s a monster. Period.”
With one-third of Chicago’s population Black and another third Hispanic, critics say Trump’s crackdown disproportionately targets communities of color and undermines trust in law enforcement.
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