US President Donald Trump on Wednesday called for the jailing of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, accusing both Democratic leaders of failing to protect federal immigration officers. Trump’s remarks came amid preparations by his administration to deploy National Guard troops to Chicago, despite objections from state and local officials.
“Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing to protect ICE Officers! Governor Pritzker also!” Trump wrote on his social media platform, targeting the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel. His post represents a further escalation in his ongoing feud with Democratic leaders over immigration enforcement. Representatives for Johnson and Pritzker were not immediately available to comment.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Texas National Guard soldiers have already gathered at an Army facility near Chicago in preparation for deployment, a move strongly opposed by Pritzker, Mayor Johnson, and other state and local officials. Trump has signaled that similar actions could be taken in other US cities facing disputes over federal law enforcement presence.
The president’s call to imprison his political rivals coincides with former FBI Director James Comey appearing in court to face criminal charges, an event critics have described as politically motivated. Trump has repeatedly demanded the jailing of opponents since his entry into politics in 2015, though Comey is the first to face actual prosecution.
