President Donald Trump is reportedly set to federalize 300 members of the Illinois National Guard, overriding objections from far-left Governor JB Pritzker.
Pritzker whined about being given an “ultimatum” on Saturday morning in a lengthy series of posts on BlueSky.
“This morning, the Trump Administration’s Department of War gave me an ultimatum: call up your troops, or we will. It is absolutely outrageous and un-American to demand a Governor send military troops within our own borders and against our will,” the governor complained.
Pritzker continued, “In the coming hours, the Trump Administration intends to federalize 300 members of the Illinois National Guard.”
“They will pull hardworking Americans out of their regular jobs and away from their families all to participate in a manufactured performance — not a serious effort the protect public safety. For Donald Trump, this has never been about safety. This is about control.”
Pritzker insisted there is “no need for military troops on the ground in the State of Illinois” and vowed not to comply, framing the action as an “act of aggression” driven by Trump’s desire for “control.”
This morning, the Trump Administration’s Department of War gave me an ultimatum: call up your troops, or we will. It is absolutely outrageous and un-American to demand a Governor send military troops within our own borders and against our will.
— Governor JB Pritzker (@govpritzker.illinois.gov) October 4, 2025 at 2:10 PM
The move comes as the Windy City grapples with escalating violence, migrant surges, and recent clashes involving ICE agents.
The federalization is expected to happen imminently, with reports indicating it could occur “in the coming hours.” This follows a pattern of decisive interventions by the Trump administration, including the recent deployment of 200 National Guard members to Portland, Oregon, on Saturday, as well as activations in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.
Clashes erupted between anti-ICE protesters and federal agents have been ongoing in Broadview, a Chicago suburb, amid reports of increased immigration enforcement and raids.
Chicago has been overwhelmed by the Biden-era migrant crisis, with thousands of illegal immigrants straining city resources, contributing to spikes in crime and homelessness.
Pritzker’s histrionics echo the resistance from other blue-state leaders, but they ring hollow given Illinois’ dire state under his watch. Chicago’s murder rate remains alarmingly high, and the unchecked influx of migrants has turned neighborhoods into powder kegs.
Trump’s federalization of the Guard is a necessary measure to safeguard communities and enforce immigration laws that Democrats like Pritzker have sabotaged for political gain.
