Illinois Governor Pritzker Appears on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ Amidst Ongoing Dispute with Trump
CHICAGO – October 10, 2025 – Illinois Governor JB pritzker appeared on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” last night, offering a pointed response to former President Donald Trump’s rhetoric regarding Chicago‘s safety and his past proposals to deploy National Guard troops to the city. The appearance followed Trump’s recent claim that Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson “should be in jail” for not adequately protecting federal agents.
The escalating tension between pritzker and Trump stems from differing views on federal intervention in local law enforcement and the characterization of Chicago’s safety. Trump has repeatedly suggested the city is in a state of crisis, prompting Pritzker to vehemently defend Chicago and reject any federal overreach.This exchange occurs against a backdrop of ongoing national debate about federal authority versus states’ rights, notably concerning immigration enforcement and public safety.
During the interview,Pritzker directly challenged Trump,responding to the “jail” comment with a defiant,”come and get me.” Kimmel used the segment to launch a social media campaign, inviting residents of cities Trump has labeled as dangerous – including Chicago and Portland, Oregon – to share videos of their communities using the hashtag #ShowMeYourHellhole.
The interview took place shortly after ABC briefly pulled “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” off the air in September following controversy surrounding comments made in Kimmel’s monologue about the response to Charlie Kirk’s assassination. since his return, Kimmel has continued to publicly criticize the Trump administration, as evidenced by a recent video posted on YouTube.
In August, Pritzker asserted that Trump ”has absolutely no right, and no legal ability, to send troops into the city of Chicago,” firmly rejecting the former president’s plans to deploy the National Guard.The governor’s appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” further solidifies his opposition and frames the issue as a matter of state sovereignty and local control.
