Trump Claims Illinois Democrats Gov. Pritzker, Chicago Mayor Johnson ‘Should Be In Jail’
President Donald Trump in a social media post Wednesday said Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson — both Democrats — should be imprisoned for allegedly failing to protect Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials.
Trump’s post, which came amid his attempt to assert control over Chicago through military deployment, was his latest call for his political opponents to be punished as part of his retribution campaign against those who have attempted to hold him accountable or have challenged his political agent.
“Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing to protect Ice Officers! Governor Pritzker also!” Trump claimed.
Get updates straight to your inbox — for free
Over 450,000 readers rely on our daily and weekly newsletters for the latest in voting, elections and democracy.
“I will not back down,” Pritzker said in response to Trump’s post.
“Trump is now calling for the arrest of elected representatives checking his power,” the governor said. “What else is left on the path to full-blown authoritarianism?”
“We must all stand up and speak out,” Pritzker added.
Trump sent the post as hundreds of Texas and Illinois National Guard troops he federalized over the weekend began arriving in the Chicago area.
Trump’s claim against Pritzker and Johnson does not match the reality on the ground in the Windy City. Since launching an antagonistic immigration enforcement campaign in Chicago this summer, Department of Homeland Security officials have conducted several aggressive raids that have elicited comparatively subdued responses from Chicago residents.
Border Patrol agents shot a woman five times in Chicago over the weekend. Attorneys representing the woman said in court that body-camera footage contradicted the Trump administration’s account of the incident and showed that one agent taunted her by saying, “Do something, b****,” before opening fire, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
In recent months, several elected Democratic lawmakers, including members of Congress and mayors, have been aggressively detained by federal agents while conducting oversight or demanding answers from Trump officials.
This story has been updated with additional details throughout.