The next is the transcript of an interview with Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, a Democrat, that aired on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on Aug. 31, 2025.
ED O’KEEFE: Governor Pritzker, thanks for doing this, and thanks for the tour. We admire it. I need to begin with the truth that we have now discovered the Trump administration is getting ready to launch what they name main immigration enforcement right here in Chicago within the coming days. The Homeland Safety Secretary on Friday recommended, quote “going to make use of LA for example.” So that blend of federal brokers deploying with the help of Nationwide Guard troops doubtlessly, to guard them and federal property. What’s your response to these obvious plans?
GOV. JB PRITZKER: Effectively, they have been right here earlier than, ICE has, scaring the communities throughout the town of Chicago. Frankly, proper right here in Little Village, companies needed to shut, individuals needed to keep home- people who find themselves U.S. residents, by the way in which, as a result of they’re afraid of being snatched off the streets and disappeared by individuals carrying masks and throwing them into vans. So the individuals of Chicago know what this appears like and are ready. We hope that they do not ship any troops together with ICE, and in the event that they do, they’re going to be in court docket fairly shortly, as a result of that’s unlawful. Posse Comitatus doesn’t enable U.S. troops into U.S. cities to do- , to combat crime, to be concerned in legislation enforcement. That is not their job.
ED O’KEEFE: In the event that they’re doing federal immigration work, a decide may say, in the event that they’re defending these federal brokers, that is okay. I imply, you may simply combat that in court docket so long as you’ll be able to?
GOV. PRITZKER: Effectively, Nationwide Guard troops- any sort of troops on the streets of an American metropolis do not belong until there may be an rebel, until there may be actually an emergency. There may be not.
ED O’KEEFE: Have you ever been briefed by anybody within the administration about these plans?
GOV. PRITZKER: Nobody within the administration, the President, or anyone underneath him, has referred to as anybody in my administration or- and me, haven’t referred to as the town of Chicago or anybody else. So it is clear that, in secret, they’re planning this- effectively, it is an invasion with U.S. troops, in the event that they, in reality, do this. The opposite factor is, , they should be coordinating with native legislation enforcement. They should tell us once they’re coming, the place they’re coming, if it is ICE or if it is ATF or whoever it’s. However, they do not need to do this both and I have to say, it is disruptive, it is harmful. It tends to inflame passions on the bottom once they do not tell us what their plans are, and after we cannot coordinate with them.
ED O’KEEFE: We’re talking with Homeland Safety Secretary Noem on Sunday. If she have been to name you, what would you say? What’s your message to her?
GOV. PRITZKER: Effectively, I would inform her that what she’s doing is inflaming passions and inflicting disruption that does not have to be triggered. We have now people who have lived, sure within the state of Illinois and the town of Chicago for many years, working right here, paying taxes. They’re legislation abiding members of our communities, pals, neighbors, and why are we arresting them? Why are we making them disappear? Certainly, they’re even disrupting the lives of people who find themselves trying to undergo a authorized course of to remain on this nation, who’ve been invited to a listening to, after which they’re arresting them within the hallways on their method to that listening to. So that is harmful. They should not be doing it. It is anti-American. It is un-American. And I might inform her to possibly test herself for what does she actually consider?
ED O’KEEFE: She’s additionally crucial of the truth that Chicago is a kind of cities that does not cooperate with federal immigration operations and he or she was quoted as saying that Illinois, quote, “refuses to have our again.”
GOV. PRITZKER: Effectively, that is not true. Actually, there have been cops who made certain that there was no person interfering or attacking or inflicting issues for the ICE officers that have been right here. Individuals have a proper to specific themselves. Individuals have a proper to their First Modification, , freedom to specific and we shield that too within the metropolis of Chicago. So it isn’t true that the- no person has their backs. What we can’t do, nonetheless, is interact in what’s a federal effort, that’s to say they’ve their job, immigration. We have now our job, which is to combat violent crime on the streets of our metropolis and by the way in which, we’re succeeding at that job, however once they convey individuals in and do not coordinate with us, they are going to trigger huge issues.
ED O’KEEFE: The President has had some issues to say in regards to the Windy Metropolis a number of instances in latest days. “Subsequent it must be Chicago.” “Chicago is a killing discipline proper now.” “All people is aware of Chicago is a hell gap proper now. All people is aware of it.” Your response?
GOV. PRITZKER: You realize, he wakes up within the morning and no matter whim strikes him is what he apparently says and just lately, I assume I have been dwelling lease free in his head. Chicago apparently resides lease free in his head, though, on different days he’ll speak about Baltimore, he’ll speak about New York. Discover he by no means talks about the place probably the most violent crime is happening, which is in pink states. Illinois will not be even within the backside half of states by way of violent crime. Certainly, we’re in the very best half of the states so- however do you hear him speaking about Florida, the place he’s now from. No, you do not hear him speaking about that, or Texas. Their violent crime charges are a lot worse elsewhere, and we’re very happy with the work that we have accomplished. And we wish extra assist. You realize what sort of assist we wish? Civilian legislation enforcement assist. We wish ATF brokers to assist us take extra weapons off the streets. We wish FBI, once more, to coordinate with our native legislation enforcement to assist catch perpetrators of crimes. If they might do this, we’d welcome that. However that is not what they’re planning on doing. What they’re planning on doing is ship troops into the town of Chicago, not as a result of they need to combat crime, however as a result of Donald Trump has different intentions.
ED O’KEEFE: So backside line would extra federal brokers in Chicago, aiding native legislation enforcement assist deter crime proper now?
GOV. PRITZKER: After all, you need to assist us catch unhealthy guys? Convey the FBI, convey the ATF. We already coordinate with them, by the way in which. We do lots of work with them. We do some- we do drug interdiction, we do- preventing gangs, and we do, , interdiction of weapons on the borders. I need to level out, by the way in which, what- if Donald Trump actually needs to assist us, what he would do is cross common background checks for weapons. We have now that within the state of Illinois, however no state round us has it. How about having it on a federal stage? As a result of that will assist hold weapons off the streets.
ED O’KEEFE: And a part of the explanation I ask in regards to the potential for federal deployments to assist proper now could be that in response to a CBS Information information evaluation of what is gone on in Washington simply in the previous couple of weeks, whereas crime there as effectively was down and most often down double digits. It is down almost 50 p.c within the three weeks for the reason that Nationwide Guard moved in. It is also down 41 p.c, homicides down 69 p.c, theft down 63 p.c, and the mayor concedes carjacking, which might grow to be an even bigger drawback, down 83 p.c for the reason that federal brokers confirmed up. So this type of deployment he is arrange in Washington, that he says he needs to do in different cities, a minimum of in Washington, is exhibiting potential success. And what I hear you saying is, effectively, certain, in the event that they present up, it would assist us, too?
GOV. PRITZKER: I am saying we do not need troops on the streets of American cities. That is un-American, and admittedly, the President of the US should know higher. This one would not appear to. He hasn’t learn any books. He would not appear to grasp the Structure or the legal guidelines.
ED O’KEEFE: But when he simply sends the FBI, the ATF, DEA–
GOV. PRITZKER: — Yeah, they’re right here already —
ED O’KEEFE: — And he sends extra of them.
GOV. PRITZKER: We have now some working with us now. Would love extra assist. You realize what else he is doing? He is slicing funds that assist us to combat violent crime from the federal authorities.
ED O’KEEFE: Give me an instance of how these cuts have affected the flexibility to combat crime in Chicago.
GOV. PRITZKER: So, let me simply let you know what occurred in Illinois after we had a Republican governor and he reduce funding for applications that helped forestall crime. What occurred was we noticed a major improve in crime. If you reduce, for instance, these applications that assist to interdict crime, proper, that assist the- give youngsters summer time jobs and so forth. If you reduce these applications, crime goes up. Our Republican governor, who preceded me, did that and what are you aware? Crime went up. Donald Trump is now doing the identical factor. He is taking away federal funding for these applications that are so vital to us. We have elevated funding on the state stage, however we want that federal funding. It is on high of that. Yet one more factor, the enterprise group within the metropolis of Chicago acquired collectively and put $100 million ahead to assist us, again in 2022, to assist us to combat crime by means of these prevention applications. It is working. Crime is down. I imply, murders are down 50 p.c within the metropolis of Chicago and you’ll undergo each statistic, nearly all the things is significantly better because of that work. Donald Trump is attempting to take that cash away. And he is not listening to the enterprise group right here. He is not listening to the clergy right here. He is not listening to individuals on the bottom, Republicans right here who perceive that placing troops on the town of Chicago’s streets goes to trigger extra issues than he understands.
ED O’KEEFE: Have you ever referred to as him or anybody on the White Home to say there is no want to come back?
GOV. PRITZKER: I feel I have been fairly clear publicly–
ED O’KEEFE: Effectively, it is one factor to be clear to us, why not choose up the cellphone?
GOV. PRITZKER: If he needs to ship troops, he ought to name. I have been very clear about what it’s that we would like assist with. However, as a substitute, he is speaking about sending troops. No one’s referred to as, actually no person from the White Home. No one from the federal authorities has referred to as anyone in our administration or the town of Chicago. If they really wished to assist, they could name and say, what assist do you want? I feel I have been fairly clear about what assist we want. I do not know why they have not bothered to succeed in out if they’ve plans of their very own, however actually, we would be blissful to obtain a name.
ED O’KEEFE: However you see no have to name your self and say, what is that this all about? This is what I would really like as a substitute?
GOV. PRITZKER: When we’ve got an emergency and we want the federal authorities to ship troops in, consider me, I’ll choose up the cellphone and name. That isn’t one thing occurring in Chicago immediately.
ED O’KEEFE: You realize, there’s one other instance of how you can doubtlessly be responding to this, and there is no query that what he is speaking about is unprecedented. However we have already seen now one other state, California, say they are going to be sending groups of state police into main cities. Sounds prefer it is likely to be to thwart potential federal deployments. Is that one thing you’ll take into account? Sending Illinois State Police into the streets to assist deter crime?
GOV. PRITZKER: We do this on a regular basis. We have now Illinois State Police- I’ve the very best state police within the nation. And, in reality, they coordinate with the Chicago Police Division and police departments all throughout the state of Illinois to do precisely that, to be sure that we’re bringing crime down. They have been very profitable.
ED O’KEEFE: I lengthy puzzled, his deal with Chicago, do you assume that has something to do with the truth that again within the day, he had a enterprise relationship along with your prolonged household within the lodge enterprise? There was a battle, for instance, in New York over a Hyatt Lodge. He has actual property, clearly, right here within the metropolis. I imply, might that be a part of it? He talked about, for instance, this previous week, I am within the lodge enterprise. His household’s within the lodge enterprise. Is there one thing from that that may trigger this?
GOV. PRITZKER: I do not know, however I am not within the lodge enterprise. I am not engaged in that and I used to be–
ED O’KEEFE: I stated prolonged household, proper.
GOV. PRITZKER: – a child. I used to be a child when he was doing any enterprise again then. So all I can say is that, for some motive, he is acquired it in his head that he must be attacking the town of Chicago. We can’t stand for it.
ED O’KEEFE: What do you assume it should do to the nation if that occurs? Deploying in Washington, the place he has federal management, is one factor, but when he sends navy forces into a serious American city- in a state that did not ask for it, past Los Angeles, what do Individuals make of that?
GOV. PRITZKER: Effectively, they need to perceive that he has different goals, apart from preventing crime. That is the very first thing they need to perceive. The second is, it is an assault on the American individuals by the President of the US. Now, he could disagree with a state that did not vote for him. However, ought to he be sending troops in? No. And take into consideration what- take into consideration what he says. He says he is sending troops to combat crime. Are any of the pink states that vote for him- voted for him, seeing troops of their states, and but they’ve greater crime charges than the town of Chicago? No.
ED O’KEEFE: You stated he has different goals. What are the opposite goals?
GOV. PRITZKER: The opposite goals are that he’d prefer to cease the elections in 2026 or, frankly, take management of these elections. He’ll simply declare that there is some drawback with an election, after which he is acquired troops on the bottom that may take management if, in reality, he is allowed to do that. We have now sovereignty. There is a tenth Modification in the US, and it says that the states have sovereignty. Our legal guidelines are supreme until there’s a federal legislation that supersedes it. Our Nationwide Guard must be underneath the management of our governors. When the President calls up the Nationwide Guard, in my complete lifetime, that has solely been to both implement a federal legislation, within the case of 1965, as you are conscious, that was accomplished, or to ship them, as repeatedly occurs, occurred underneath Biden, occurred underneath each president my lifetime, to ship them overseas to combat for this nation, as a result of they’re skilled to go to conflict. They’re skilled to guard the nation. They don’t seem to be skilled to do legislation enforcement on the road.
ED O’KEEFE: I hear you speaking about invasion, I hear you speaking about- I hear you speaking about him suspending elections. Are you suggesting- is it your perception he is an authoritarian?
GOV. PRITZKER: Look, I can let you know this. I constructed a Holocaust Museum. I do know what the historical past was of a constitutional republic being overturned, after an election, in 53 days. And I am very, very involved. We might speak about a number of authoritarian regimes on the earth, however that simply occurs to be the one which I do know. And I can let you know that- that the playbook is identical. It is thwart the media, it is create mayhem that requires navy interdiction. These are issues that occur all through historical past, and Donald Trump is simply following that playbook.
ED O’KEEFE: On weapons actual fast, you have handed and signed some fairly important firearms laws this summer time right here in Illinois. How does that laws assist cease shootings at church buildings and colleges from occurring?
GOV. PRITZKER: Effectively, we have banned assault weapons within the state of Illinois. We have banned bump shares. We have banned switches that flip a daily gun into, basically, an automated weapon. These are all issues that cut back the variety of shootings. And by the way in which, guess what? Shootings are down considerably within the metropolis of Chicago and throughout the state of Illinois. And once more, I very a lot consider that individuals who have a proper to personal a gun ought to be capable of go get one, however that you have to have common background checks. You have to just be sure you’re not promoting weapons that give somebody the flexibility to commit a mass assault, in a college or wherever else. However individuals have a proper to guard themselves. There is a second modification and I consider that.
ED O’KEEFE: You stated you are having some points with the states round Illinois, proper?
GOV. PRITZKER: Effectively, yeah. There’s not a single state round Illinois that has common background checks. Do not we expect we should be sure that individuals who purchase weapons ought to have a proper to personal a gun, and that we should not have individuals who have important psychological well being points, or a felony report that ought to hold them from proudly owning a gun?
ED O’KEEFE: There seems to be a little bit of a divide in your celebration about how you can strategy the President. You both combat again, do not cooperate, do not present up for conferences with him, otherwise you discover methods to hunt widespread floor and do issues on behalf of your state. I feel I do know the reply to this, however the place do you come down on how Democrats must be participating the White Home?
GOV. PRITZKER: I feel I have been fairly clear, for the reason that very starting, that I do know who Donald Trump is, I do know what his goals are, they usually’re not good for the American individuals. They don’t seem to be good for the individuals of Illinois. And so, yeah, I have been standing as much as Donald Trump, and I’ll do all the things I can to cease him from taking away individuals’s rights and from utilizing the navy to invade states. I feel it is essential for us all to face up. I’ve referred to as for individuals to get out within the streets, use their megaphones and their microphones, make certain they go to the poll field to vote. That is been my angle towards Donald Trump, and that is what I feel individuals must be doing all throughout the nation.
ED O’KEEFE Does the following Democratic presidential nominee, although, have to marketing campaign to vow to undo all the things he is accomplished?
GOV. PRITZKER: Oh, I do not know. I am not pondering about- that is too distant. Let’s discuss in regards to the 2026 election.
ED O’KEEFE: You are operating for reelection.
GOV. PRITZKER: I’m operating for reelection.
ED O’KEEFE: Can a voter stroll into the sales space in Illinois realizing that you’ll serve a full time period for those who’re reelected to a 3rd time period?
GOV. PRITZKER: I am- I have been in workplace now for six-and-a-half years. I’ve devoted myself, myself totally to the state of Illinois, and I at all times will. I do not know what the long run holds. What I can let you know is I am completely devoted to upholding the rights of individuals within the state of Illinois and ensuring that we’re defending them, particularly from a tyrant who’s taken over the White Home.
ED O’KEEFE: However you- are you planning to run for President proper now?
GOV. PRITZKER: My plan is to run for reelection as governor of the state.
ED O’KEEFE Is it one thing you consider a minimum of?
GOV. PRITZKER: You realize, I go searching, we have got a bench among the many Democratic Get together that’s actually terrific. I might level to governors. I might level to senators. I feel there are lots of good selections. I can simply say that there, , there is no motive for us to not be desirous about all of these selections and desirous about what’s it that the American individuals really need? What they need is to have the ability to go to the grocery retailer and afford issues. They need to have the ability to purchase a home. They need to have the ability to get an excellent job, and people are issues that Democrats are preventing for. Republicans with tariffs, with preventing in opposition to the center class by giving a large tax reduce to the wealthiest, whereas taking away Medicaid and meals help, the place clearly, Republicans will not be on the facet of common working individuals in the US.
ED O’KEEFE: After we discuss in regards to the bench. Is it accountable, is it correct to place you on that bench?
GOV. PRITZKER: What’s correct is that we have got a terrific group of people that might be President of the US, on the Democratic facet, and I am blissful to face with them as we stand in opposition to Donald Trump.
ED O’KEEFE: I am acknowledging that they are attempting to get us to wrap up and so I simply have like two extra to allow them to relax. One of many- when individuals begin trying on the future discipline and your title comes up and also you’re acquainted with this, they go, effectively, sure, profitable Midwestern governor, however he is a billionaire whose household made its cash in inns. Is a man who’s a billionaire as a result of his household made cash in inns and different profitable corporations, the reply to the Democratic Get together’s future? Particularly when the bottom of your celebration is so anxious about points like earnings inequality and the wealthy getting away with issues that the working class would not?
GOV. PRITZKER: You realize, individuals requested that query after I ran for governor again in 2018, and I feel what I’ve confirmed to them is, initially, I gained by a major margin, nearly 16 p.c within the state. Second, what I’ve confirmed to them is that I rise up for working individuals and probably the most susceptible in our society, that I’m a real blue Democrat who’s been preventing for the rights of ladies, the rights of minorities, ensuring that we’re doing all the things that we will to maintain the individuals of Illinois secure. And I feel that is why I acquired reelected, additionally by double digits, and I hope to get reelected once more subsequent 12 months.
ED O’KEEFE: And backside line it for us, is there any probability Illinois redraws its congressional traces earlier than subsequent 12 months’s midterm elections?
GOV. PRITZKER: That is not one thing that I need to do. It isn’t one thing that any of us need to do. However I’ve to say, if Donald Trump goes to power his will on the American individuals by going to his MAGA allies in numerous states and have they- having them redraw in the midst of a decade, once you’re purported to be doing it proper after a census, with a 12 months ending in a single, not a 12 months ending in 5. If he is going to do this all around the nation, I feel all of us have to consider what it’s that we will do to counter that.
ED O’KEEFE: What much- what far more might you do, although, as an Illinois Democrat? I imply, your map already will get an F from most good authorities teams for being gerrymandered. Would you wipe out all of the Republican districts?
GOV. PRITZKER: We have had lots of very profitable candidates within the state, and I can let you know this, that, yeah, it’s doable to have extra democratic districts within the state of Illinois, and we- we might do it. Like I stated, it isn’t one thing that I need to do, and I would prefer it to cease right here. I do know Texas is now signing this map into legislation, the governor of Texas. We all know how a lot he cares in regards to the nation, in no way. And we’re now going to see it in California, in all probability. I hope that it ends there. It ought to finish there. And we should, , get a census accomplished in 2030 and a brand new map accomplished in 2031.
ED O’KEEFE: Alright, we’ll finish it there. Thanks for taking the time.
GOV. PRITZKER: Thanks, Ed, good to see you.
