Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) has drawn sharp criticism for comparing the Trump administration’s law enforcement strategies to the “early days of the Nazi regime,” claiming federal efforts to address crime in Chicago mirror authoritarian overreach. The governor warned that National Guard troops could be deployed at polling places during the 2026 midterm elections, framing the move as part of a broader plan to “militarize” American cities.
Pritzker’s remarks followed the arrival of National Guard forces, including dozens from Texas, in Chicago as part of a federal crime-fighting initiative. Despite the city’s persistent violent crime crisis, Pritzker and Illinois Democrats have opposed the deployment, accusing the Trump administration of undermining democratic norms. “In the early days of the Nazi regime, they started slowly but surely taking away people’s rights, and what we’re seeing now is the very same thing,” Pritzker stated in an interview.
The governor also alleged that Trump seeks to manipulate elections by deploying federal forces to polling locations, asserting, “Without shenanigans and breaches of the Constitution, he’s going to lose the Congress.” The White House responded with harsh criticism, calling Pritzker a “SICK scumbag” and condemning his rhetoric as inflammatory.
The controversy comes amid legal battles over the legality of federal troop deployments in Democratic-led states. While a federal judge halted similar efforts in Oregon, Illinois has seen no such restrictions. Chicago’s ongoing violence and strained cooperation between local and federal agencies under sanctuary state policies have further complicated the situation. A recent incident in Broadview, Illinois, saw federal agents attacked while local police allegedly refrained from intervention, underscoring tensions between state and federal authorities.
