Executive Summary
- Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker dismissed President Trump’s recent personal attacks regarding his weight, calling them “fifth grade” behavior and retorting about Trump’s own physical condition.
- Pritzker also accused Trump of “abusing his power” concerning a reported plan to deploy National Guard troops to Chicago.
- The Illinois governor clarified that the state had neither received a request for nor made a request for federal intervention regarding the potential National Guard deployment.
The Story So Far
- The recent exchanges between Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and President Trump are rooted in a documented history of Trump personally targeting Pritzker over his weight. These personal attacks are compounded by broader political tensions, including a recent disagreement over a reported plan for federal intervention in Chicago with National Guard troops, which Pritzker characterized as an abuse of power and which the state did not request, highlighting ongoing friction over federal-state relations.
Why This Matters
- The ongoing personal attacks between President Trump and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, alongside Pritzker’s accusations of Trump abusing power regarding a potential federal deployment of National Guard troops to Chicago without state request, highlight a deepening animosity and confrontational political climate, raising concerns about federal overreach and the future of federal-state relations.
Who Thinks What?
- Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker dismisses President Trump’s personal attacks as “fifth grade” bullying, retorting that Trump himself “is not in good shape,” and accuses Trump of “abusing his power” regarding a reported plan for federal intervention in Chicago.
- President Trump has made personal remarks about Gov. Pritzker’s weight, suggesting he “ought to spend more time in the gym,” and is reportedly considering deploying National Guard troops to Chicago.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) on Monday dismissed recent personal attacks from President Trump regarding his weight, stating that such comments are “just evidence of a guy who’s still living in fifth grade.” The remarks came after Trump, speaking in the Oval Office, suggested Pritzker “ought to spend more time in the gym,” further escalating a history of similar exchanges between the two political figures.
Pritzker’s Response to Weight Comments
Pritzker directly retorted on Monday, stating, “It takes one to know one on the weight question,” and added that the president himself “is not in good shape.” He further characterized Trump as “the kind of bully that throws invectives at people, because he knows that what he’s saying is actually commentary on himself.”
Trump has a documented history of targeting Pritzker over his weight. During a 2024 Ohio campaign rally, Trump accused the governor of being “too busy eating” to effectively lead his state, a comment that reportedly drew laughter from the audience.
Federal Intervention in Chicago
Separately, Pritzker had on Saturday accused Trump of “abusing his power” in connection with a reported plan to deploy National Guard troops to Chicago. This potential federal intervention would follow similar actions in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.
The Illinois governor clarified in a social media post late Saturday that the state had “received no requests or outreach from the federal government asking if we need assistance.” He also stated that Illinois had made “no requests for federal intervention” regarding the matter.
Ongoing Political Tensions
The exchanges underscore ongoing political tensions between the Democratic governor and President Trump, encompassing both personal remarks and disagreements over federal-state relations.
