The Pentagon’s Northern Command says 500 National Guard soldiers from Illinois and Texas have arrived in the Chicago region, despite opposition from local officials who have sued to stop the deployment. Their arrival came as President Trump wrote on his social media site that Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker “should be in jail for failing to protect ICE Officers.” On Wednesday, Governor Pritzker rejected Trump’s threats, saying, “Come and get me.” He said Trump had deployed the troops without any advance notice.

Gov. JB Pritzker: “I’ve said over and over again the federal government has not communicated with our state in any way whatsoever about what their troop movements are going to be. I can’t believe I have to say 'troop movements' in a city in the United States, but that is what we’re talking about.” 

Governor Pritzker also said Wednesday he believes Trump is normalizing the use of the military ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, when Pritzker believes Trump may have soldiers stationed outside polling places to “assume control of the ballot boxes and count the votes himself.”