Pritzker Fires Back After Trump Claims He ‘Should Be in Jail’ — “Come and Get Me”

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker delivered a blistering rebuttal Sunday after former President Donald Trump claimed he and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson “should be in jail” over a protest incident involving federal immigration agents.

The confrontation occurred near an ICE facility in Broadview, a Chicago suburb, where demonstrators surrounded officers during a patrol. According to dispatch recordings, Chicago police were told not to intervene as tensions escalated. At one point, agents reported a woman attempted to drive into them with a semi-automatic weapon; they opened fire, injuring the suspect, who was later arrested.

Trump seized on the event, accusing Pritzker and Johnson of endangering federal officers. But Pritzker didn’t back down.

Appearing on ABC’s This Week with George Stephanopoulos, the Democratic governor launched a fierce defense, calling out both Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance—whom he accused of spreading falsehoods on live television.

“You just heard a tidal wave of lies from the vice president,” Pritzker said. “It’s shocking. He made things up without any regard for truth or decency. That’s what this administration does every single day.”

He turned the focus back on Trump, referencing his multiple criminal convictions. “This is a 34-time convicted felon threatening to imprison political opponents,” Pritzker said. “They’re weaponizing power to silence dissent. That’s authoritarianism—plain and simple.”

When asked about Trump’s threats, Pritzker doubled down on a defiant stance he first took earlier in the week: “Come and get me.”

“I’m not afraid of Donald Trump,” he told Stephanopoulos. “He bullies, he lies, and calls it leadership. But I’ll stand up for Illinois. That’s my job.”

Pressed on whether he feared Trump might actually try to prosecute him—as he has targeted figures like James Comey and Letitia James—Pritzker remained firm.

“Does he have the power to try? Sure. Does that mean he can override the Constitution? Absolutely not. So am I afraid? No. Will he try? Probably. But come and get me. You’re dead wrong, Mr. President—and I won’t be intimidated.”

Pritzker also criticized the federal deployment of troops into states without consent, citing Republican pushback. He referenced Oklahoma’s governor saying he’d object if Illinois sent troops into his state—then pointed out Texas Governor Greg Abbott had done just that in Illinois.

“Even Republican Governor Phil Scott of Vermont called this unconstitutional,” Pritzker noted. “It’s good to see some Republicans defending state sovereignty. More should follow.”

The exchange highlighted the deepening divide between state leaders and the Trump administration over immigration enforcement and executive overreach. For Pritzker, the moment wasn’t just about defending his policies—it was about positioning himself as a national voice against what he calls a threat to democratic norms.

“We’re watching a presidency with no restraint,” he warned. “Threatening opponents, manipulating law enforcement, using fear to divide people—that’s not leadership. That’s tyranny walking through the front door.”

He pushed back on claims that Illinois and Chicago are “lawless zones,” pointing to declining crime rates and investments in underserved communities.

“Our officers risk their lives every day. We’re not lawless—we’re resilient.”

Trump’s campaign responded by accusing Pritzker of “grandstanding” and running one of the “worst-run states in America”—but the governor appears unfazed.

With speculation growing about a 2028 presidential run, Pritzker used the platform to project strength, principle, and defiance.

“I took an oath to uphold the Constitution,” he said. “That means standing up to bullies—even if that bully sits in the Oval Office.”

As the political battle intensifies, Pritzker ended with the same bold challenge:

“Come and get me. Because I’m not backing down—not today, not ever.”