Trump vs Mayor of Chicago and Illinois Governor

Trump and the leaders of Chicago and Illinois Continue their battle in absentia.

Each side believes the other should go to jail.

Illinois Governor James Robert “J.B.” Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson are blocking the deployment of National Guard troops (including those from Texas) to the city. The troops are being held at a temporary staging area.

Local police have been instructed not to assist federal agents (primarily Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers) who have arrived in the city to arrest illegal immigrants and criminals wanted by the federal government. And the feds are having a hard time. They’ve been attacked several times, and there are casualties.

Donald Trump wrote on his Truth Social network: “The Mayor of Chicago should be jailed for failing to protect ICE officers! So should Governor Pritzker!”

The mayor of Chicago responded on his microblog: “This is not the first time Trump has tried to have a Black man unjustly arrested. I’m not going anywhere.”

Governor Pritzker launched a series of posts. First, he wrote: “Donald Trump is violating the Constitution and the law. This is a show of force so he can militarize our cities for the 2026 elections. We need to unite and speak up.” He then added: “I will not back down. Trump is now calling for the arrest of elected representatives who resist him. What more is left on the path to full-blown authoritarianism?”

Furthermore, J.B. Pritzker distributed a memo for migrants and anyone else who might be arrested by ICE, reminding them of their rights (a lawyer, a phone call, no questions, no signing, and “stay calm”).

And while the National Guard is marking time, and ICE officers are forced to remain on the defensive, this whole situation plays into the hands of Trump’s enemies.