Trump Calls for Jail Time for Chicago Leaders
President Donald Trump escalated tensions on Wednesday by saying Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker should face jail for failing to protect U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.
“Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing to protect ICE Officers! Governor Pritzker also!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
National Guard Arrives Amid Protests
Trump’s remarks followed the arrival of Texas National Guard troops in Illinois on Tuesday. Their mission: protect federal personnel and property amid rising anti-immigration protests.
A Pentagon official confirmed that 200 guardsmen were mobilized for an initial 60-day period to support the Federal Protection Mission. Near an ICE facility in Broadview, authorities arrested about a dozen protesters who had been gathering for days.
Chicago Leaders Push Back
Governor Pritzker condemned Trump’s call. “I will not back down. Arresting elected representatives for checking presidential power is authoritarian. We must all speak out,” he said.
Mayor Johnson also pushed back. On X, he stated, “This is not the first time Trump has tried to have a Black man unjustly arrested. I’m not going anywhere.” In a CNN appearance, he added, “This president is unstable, unhinged, and a threat to our democracy.”
White House Doubles Down
White House Press Secretary Abigail Jackson defended Trump, accusing Pritzker and Johnson of inaction. “These failed leaders have stood idly by while innocent Americans fall victim to violent crime. Last weekend alone, 30 people were shot, five fatally. Instead of acting, these leaders attack the President for trying to keep the city safe,” she said.
DHS Deploys Additional Personnel
The Department of Homeland Security, led by Secretary Kristi Noem, announced further deployment of special operations personnel after federal agents were blocked and boxed in by ten vehicles near ICE facilities.
Mayor Johnson called the deployment “illegal, unconstitutional, dangerous, and wrong,” reiterating his opposition to federal intervention in the city.
