chicago, IL - Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker stated that the Trump management requested the deployment of federal troops to Chicago to quell unrest during the summer of 2020, a move he vehemently opposed. the revelation, made during a panel discussion at the Economic Club of Chicago on Monday, underscores the contentious relationship between the then-President Trump and state and local leaders during a period of heightened social and political tension.
Pritzker described receiving a direct request from the Trump administration to send federal troops to Chicago, alongside similar proposals for other major cities experiencing protests following the death of George Floyd. He asserted he “flatly rejected” the offer, emphasizing the importance of local control and the potential for escalating conflict. “We were very clear with the Trump administration that we did not want federal troops in Illinois,” Pritzker saeid, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.”We were worried about escalating things, and we were worried about the constitutional issues.”
The request came amid widespread protests and civil unrest across the United States in the summer of 2020,sparked by the killing of George floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. The Trump administration repeatedly offered to deploy federal law enforcement and National Guard troops to cities experiencing demonstrations, often framing it as a necessary step to restore order. These offers were met with resistance from manny Democratic governors and mayors, who argued that the federal government lacked the authority to intervene in local law enforcement matters and that the presence of federal troops could further inflame tensions.
The incident highlights a broader pattern of conflict between the Trump administration and state and local officials over the handling of protests and civil unrest. The administration’s attempts to deploy federal forces to cities like Portland, Oregon, also drew sharp criticism and legal challenges.
Reporting on the story includes contributions from Heather Schlitz and Emily Schmall of Reuters,with Schlitz covering commodity markets and agriculture from Chicago,and Schmall leading the Chicago-based agricultural team,focusing on commodities,trade,and the farm economy. Schmall previously reported for the Associated Press and the new York Times, including an award-winning examination into the economic marginalization of young women in india.