Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, a potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidate, sharply criticized President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance during an appearance on ABC’s This Week on Sunday. The comments came in response to Trump’s recent social media post, in which he said Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson “should be in jail” for allegedly failing to protect ICE officers during a recent protest. Pritzker responded defiantly, telling host George Stephanopoulos, “Come and get me.”
Pritzker accused the Trump administration of spreading falsehoods and targeting political opponents. “You heard a tidal wave of lies from the vice president of the United States,” he said, referring to Vance’s earlier appearance on the program. “They are making things up to go after people… I’m not afraid. I’m going to stand up for the people of my state.”
The Illinois governor also accused the Trump administration of acting unconstitutionally, though he did not cite specific legal violations. He called on leaders from both parties to oppose what he described as authoritarian overreach. “Even Governor Phil Scott in Vermont has called this unconstitutional,” Pritzker said. “More [Republicans] should do so.”
When asked if he feared Trump might use federal power to target him, Pritzker acknowledged the possibility but remained defiant. “Do I think he could do it? He might,” he said. “But… come and get me. You are dead wrong, Mr. President. And Mr. Vice President. And I will stand up for the law.”
Trump’s comments followed reports that Chicago police were allegedly told to stand down during a violent incident involving ICE agents and protesters near an immigration facility in Broadview, Illinois. According to federal officials, a woman with a semi-automatic weapon tried to ram the agents’ vehicle and was later taken into custody.
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