By Greg Bishop | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker says President Donald Trump only wants troops on the ground to interfere in next year’s elections, not address public safety as the president insists.

Trump border czar Tom Homan on Thursday confirmed some kind of staging area is planned at Naval Station Great Lakes, but didn’t disclose how large. Later in the day, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Chicago’s murders have led the nation.

“And this is Governor Pritzker’s legacy. He should put politics aside. He should pick up the phone and call this president, who would be more than happy to do right by law-abiding American residents in the city of Chicago and we hope that he will.”

Thursday afternoon in Southern Illinois, Pritzker said what he thought was behind the Trump administration’s plans.

“He wants to have troops on the ground to stop people from voting, to intimidate people from going to the voting booth, so take note, that is what this is all about,” Pritzker said without providing evidence.

The next election in Illinois is the March 17, 2026, primary and then the midterm general election in November 2026. Tuesday, Trump said he could clean up crime in Chicago within two months.

Leavitt said Trump wants police to do their job.

“So maybe Governor Pritzker should spend less time demonizing the police, more time trying to recruit more police and more time trying to call the president of the United States to get crime in his city under control,” Leavitt said.

Pritzker said he agrees more police need to be hired.

“If the president wants to help us, he should help us hire more police. I’ve done that as governor, but we should absolutely be promoting more police hiring in cities like Chicago and all across this state,” Pritzker said.

Trump posted on Truth Social that the people of Chicago are “desperate” for the president to stop the crime, something he said Democrats aren’t capable of doing. The president said “STAY TUNED!!!”