In a dramatic escalation of political tensions, President Donald Trump has called for the arrest of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker—two prominent Democratic leaders resisting his administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement and military deployments in their cities.
The fiery rhetoric, delivered Wednesday during a White House roundtable on domestic extremism, marks a new phase in Trump’s campaign against what he calls the “enemy from within”—a term he’s increasingly applied to elected officials, protesters, and even members of Congress who oppose his agenda.
Why Trump Wants Pritzker and Johnson Jailed
At the heart of the conflict is Chicago’s resistance to federal immigration raids. Mayor Johnson recently signed an executive order establishing “ICE-free zones” across the city, limiting where federal agents can operate. Governor Pritzker has echoed that stance, criticizing the Trump administration’s tactics as “overreach” and “intimidation.”
Trump, however, claims their actions amount to a criminal failure to protect U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. “Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing to protect Ice Officers! Governor Pritzker also!” he posted on social media.
During the White House event, Trump doubled down, stating: “I understand that’s a criminal offense.” He offered no legal basis for the claim, but the message was clear: defiance will not be tolerated.
Military on City Streets: A Growing Flashpoint
The jail threats come as Trump pushes to deploy National Guard troops—some from out of state—into Democratic-run cities like Chicago and Portland. Texas National Guard units have already been sent to the Chicago area, while federal troops were dispatched to Portland to confront a small group of anti-ICE demonstrators.
Both Pritzker and Johnson have refused to back down. “This is not the first time Trump has tried to have a Black man unjustly arrested,” Mayor Johnson said in a defiant social media post. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Gov. Pritzker went further, challenging Trump directly: “Come and get me!” during an MSNBC interview. He warned that jailing elected officials for exercising their constitutional authority would mark a dangerous turn toward authoritarianism.
Broadening the “Enemy From Within” List
Trump’s targets aren’t limited to local leaders. He also singled out Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), accusing him of deserving punishment for questioning Attorney General Pam Bondi during a recent oversight hearing.
Comparing Blumenthal to disgraced former Rep. George Santos, Trump suggested the senator’s past controversy over military service claims warranted legal consequences—despite no charges ever being filed.
Political scientists say this widening net of perceived enemies reflects a strategic shift. “He is escalating his rhetoric to focus on domestic enemies, and it’s pretty open-ended,” said Robert A. Pape, a political science professor at the University of Chicago. “It’s very clear it’s on the liberal side of the house. But it’s not clear where the boundaries are.”
Constitutional Concerns Mount
Legal and historical experts warn that Trump’s actions—threatening state officials, deploying out-of-state troops, and criminalizing political opposition—push against foundational American norms.
“Most other presidents believed in constitutional limits,” said Jeremi Suri, a history professor at the University of Texas at Austin. “I don’t care who it is. They don’t want someone outside of Illinois saying that they’re going to put their governor in jail and sending troops from Texas into their state.”
As the standoff intensifies, many are watching to see whether courts, Congress, or public pressure can rein in what critics describe as an unprecedented concentration of executive power.
