Pritzker, ex-military leaders slam Trump over ‘dangerous’ National Guard deployments

CHICAGO, Ill. (WTVO) — Governor J.B. Pritzker continued his opposition to the Trump administration’s actions regarding the National Guard on Thursday, hosting a roundtable with former military leaders to discuss what he calls attempts to politicize the military.

The roundtable, held today, included former Illinois National Guard Adjutant General Major General William L. Enyart, Major General Randy Manner, Major General Paul Eaton, Lieutenant General Charles Luckey, Rear Admiral Michael Smith, and Janessa Goldbeck. These leaders expressed concerns about the federalization of the National Guard under President Trump, arguing it could lead to a dangerous precedent.

“We cannot accept any of this as normal,” Pritzker stated. “We must continue to call this what it is: a dangerous, a dangerous power grab that echoes the rise of authoritarianism.”

Major General William L. Enyart remarked, “Our National Guard members are trained to defend our nation and to respond to natural disasters. They are not policemen, nor are they political pawns.”

Pritzker’s roundtable highlighted the experiences of military leaders who served under various presidential administrations, noting differences they perceive under the Trump administration.

The discussion underscored concerns that federalizing the National Guard could lead to its misuse as a political tool, rather than its intended role in national defense and disaster response.

Currently, a court ruling has temporarily barred the federalized National Guard from operating in Illinois, a decision that aligns with Pritzker’s stance against the administration’s actions.

The Trump administration maintains that the National Guard is necessary to protect federal agents and property, arguing that state officials are not adequately fulfilling their duties.

The ongoing debate over the role of the National Guard in Illinois reflects broader tensions between state and federal authorities, with Pritzker and military leaders advocating for the Guard’s traditional roles and warning against its politicization.

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by WTVO. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by WTVO staff before being published.