After President Donald Trump called for his imprisonment, Illinois Democratic Governor JB Pritzker — one of Trump’s most outspoken critics — warned that the country is heading toward “full-blown authoritarianism.”
“Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing to protect Ice Officers! Governor Pritzker also!” the President blasted early Wednesday morning, hours after the National Guard arrived in Illinois. Governor Pritzker opposes Trump deploying the troops, and has called it an “invasion.”
“Not yet 9 a.m. in IL,” NBC News senior political reporter Natasha Korecki wrote on X, “& the president has threatened to jail both the Gov and the Chicago mayor as the [National] Guard hits the streets after ICE/CBP clashed with Chicagoans, shooting one, after a Blackhawk helicopter landed on a South Side apartment building, arresting gang members but purportedly zip tying residents.”
Trump’s social media missive is his “latest call for his political opponents to be punished as part of his retribution campaign against those who have attempted to hold him accountable or have challenged his political agent,” according to Democracy Docket.
Governor Pritzker responded to the President’s remarks in a series of social media messages.
Vowing to “not back down,” he warned, “Trump is now calling for the arrest of elected representatives checking his power. What else is left on the path to full-blown authoritarianism?”
He noted that the President’s “masked agents already are grabbing people off the street. Separating children from their parents. Creating fear. Taking people for ‘how they look.'”
“Making people feel they need to carry citizenship papers,” he charged. “Invading our state with military troops. Sending in war helicopters in the middle of the night. Arresting elected officials asking questions.”
And he called for everyone to “stand up and speak out.”
U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-PA) praised Governor Pritzker: “Can’t help but admire the strength and resolve JB is displaying throughout this ordeal. Clearly @GovPritzker was meant for this moment.”