Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) accused President Donald Trump of deploying National Guard troops to U.S. cities for political gain ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Speaking to MSNBC on Tuesday, Pritzker said the effort reflects Trump’s “authoritarian need to control” and is aimed at ensuring Republicans maintain congressional power.
Trump recently launched the Memphis Safe Task Force, sending National Guard units despite the city reporting its lowest crime rate in 25 years. FBI data, however, shows Memphis still had the highest violent crime rate among U.S. cities through August. Trump also suggested Chicago could be “next,” prompting Mayor Brandon Johnson (D) to declare, “No federal troops in the city of Chicago.”
The deployments follow a June order sending 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles during protests over immigration enforcement. A federal judge later ruled the move illegal under the 1878 Posse Comitatus Act, which bars the military from civilian policing.
Despite declining crime rates in Washington, Trump also federalized the D.C. police and extended Guard presence there. Several Republican-led states have deployed additional troops to support the effort.
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