Donald Trump has renewed his clash with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker after another violent weekend in Chicago, where six people lost their lives and more than two dozen were injured in shootings. He criticised the Democratic governor for refusing federal assistance and described him as incapable of handling the situation.
On Saturday, the former president used Truth Social to post a strongly worded message, branding Pritzker “incompetent” and telling him to “straighten it out, fast, or we’re coming.”
This latest attack came only weeks after Trump approved sweeping executive actions that put Washington, DC, under federal control by mobilising the National Guard and taking command of the Metropolitan Police in a bid to restore order in the capital.
Trump has now hinted that Chicago could be the next target of such federal intervention. He even connected Pritzker’s recent weight loss to speculation about a possible run for the presidency in 2028.
Earlier in the week, Trump also ridiculed Pritzker on a personal level, saying the governor “ought to spend more time in the gym, actually.”
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Trump’s Direct Attack on Pritzker
In his post, Trump wrote: “Six people were killed, and 24 people were shot, in Chicago last weekend, and JB Pritzker, the weak and pathetic Governor of Illinois, just said that he doesn’t need help in preventing CRIME. He is CRAZY!!! He’d better straighten it out, FAST, or we’re coming!”
Pritzker responded strongly, accusing Trump of taking an unconstitutional path and describing his approach as “a dangerous power grab.” The governor also answered the jibe about his weight by joking, “it takes one to know one on the weight question.”
Political Analysts Weigh In
Republican strategist Mark McKinnon told Politico that Pritzker’s slimmer appearance “looks like he’s getting ready for a fight.” Political consultant David Kochel added that losing weight is becoming part of modern political image building, saying, “If you want to look younger and healthier, it makes total sense.”
Others, such as Chris Christie and Mike Pompeo, have also shed weight before seeking national political opportunities, making Pritzker’s physical changes part of a pattern seen among presidential hopefuls.
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Chicago Pushes Back Against Federal Threats
Chicago’s mayor, Brandon Johnson, signed an executive order on Friday rejecting Trump’s threat to send federal troops or the National Guard into the city. Johnson said: “We do not need nor want an unconstitutional and illegal military occupation of our city,” pledging that Chicago would “do everything in our power to defend our democracy and protect our communities.”
The battle between Trump and Pritzker has become politically useful for both. Trump uses Chicago’s violence to argue that Democratic leaders have failed while strengthening his own image as a law-and-order candidate. Pritzker, on his part, portrays himself as standing up to what he describes as bullying tactics from Trump.
Despite the political drama, Chicago’s violent crime problem remains severe. Data from the White House shows that the city has recorded the highest number of homicides in the United States for 13 consecutive years.
