Duckworth: Deploying National Guard troops to Chicago comes from Trump’s ‘authoritarian playbook’

(25News Now) - U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Gov. JB Pritzker each released statements this weekend condemning President Donald Trump’s crime-fighting plans to deploy National Guard troops to Chicago.

Duckworth said Trump’s intentions are “unwarranted” and come “straight out of the authoritarian’s playbook.” Pritzker, meanwhile, said the president is trying to “manufacture a crisis” that doesn’t exist and is politicizing the military.

Duckworth released the following statement on Sunday:

“It comes as no surprise Donald Trump is once again attacking Chicago, but that doesn’t change that Trump’s continuing pattern of politicizing and misusing our nation’s military for his own partisan gain and to crush dissent is deeply disturbing, is un-American and has no place in any of our cities.

“We know this isn’t about ‘law and order’ because Trump is once again refusing to coordinate with state and local officials. And if he really cared about ‘health and safety,’ he wouldn’t have cut millions of dollars in gun violence prevention funding just weeks ago. This is just another attempt to distract the American people from the price increases his own policies are causing and the various personal scandals he wants to change the subject from.

“Forcing the military, uninvited, into Chicago to intimidate Americans in their own communities does not make our nation stronger, it simply distracts the military from executing its core mission of keeping Americans safe from real adversaries who wish us harm.

“It’s yet another unwarranted, unwanted and unjust move straight out of the authoritarian’s playbook that will only undermine our military’s readiness and ultimately weaken our national security.”

Pritzker, who said he’s not ruling out running for president in 2028, released this statement Saturday night.

“The State of Illinois at this time has received no requests or outreach from the federal government asking if we need assistance, and we have made no requests for federal intervention.

“The safety of the people of Illinois is always my top priority. There is no emergency that warrants the President of the United States federalizing the Illinois National Guard, deploying the National Guard from other states, or sending active activity duty military within our own borders.

“Donald Trump is attempting to manufacture a crisis, politicize Americans who serve in uniform, and continue abusing his power to distract from the pain he is causing working families.

“We will continue to follow the law, stand up for the sovereignty of our state, and protect the people of Illinois.”

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said sending troops threatens to undermine the city’s historic progress in reducing crime. Homicides are down more than 30%, shootings are down almost 40%, and robberies are down 35%, according to Johnson.

“There are many things the federal government could do to help us reduce crime and violence in Chicago, but sending in the military is not one of them,” the mayor said.

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