Nineteen Democratic governors on Thursday issued a rare joint statement denouncing US President Donald Trump’s threat to deploy National Guard troops in major US cities without their consent, describing the move as an “alarming abuse of power.”
The statement, signed by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, Maryland’s Wes Moore, New York’s Kathy Hochul and nearly every other Democratic governor except those in Arizona, Connecticut, Hawaii and Minnesota, directly challenged Trump’s claim that he could override state authority.
“Instead of actually addressing crime, President Trump cut federal funding for law enforcement that states rely on and continues to politicise our military by trying to undermine the executive authority of governors as commanders in chief of their state’s National Guard,” they wrote, according to the New York Times.
They added, “Whether it’s Illinois, Maryland and New York or another state tomorrow, the president’s threats and efforts to deploy a state’s National Guard without the request and consent of that state’s governor is an alarming abuse of power, ineffective, and undermines the mission of our service members. This chaotic federal interference in our states’ National Guard must come to an end.”
Trump escalated tensions earlier in the week by claiming he had “the right to do anything I want to do” with the Guard, sparking fears among Democratic-led states.
In recent months, his administration has already sent troops to Washington, DC, and Los Angeles. As per news agency AP, the department of homeland security also approached Naval Station Great Lakes, north of Chicago, for logistical support in immigration operations, suggesting the city could be next.
Local leaders in Chicago said they were not consulted. Mayor Brandon Johnson and Governor Pritzker have vowed to resist, with city officials preparing for potential legal action. Police Superintendent Larry Snelling urged clearer communication to avoid panic, saying, “We don’t want to create chaos on our streets.”
The pushback from Democratic governors comes amid rising concerns about militarisation in domestic affairs. Former President Barack Obama warned on X that the erosion of due process and the use of troops on American soil “puts the liberties of all Americans at risk.”
Pete Buttigieg, now US transportation secretary, also criticised the idea, noting that Naval Station Great Lakes was never meant for surveillance or enforcement against citizens.
Trump, however, has defended his approach, insisting Democratic leaders have failed to control crime. On his Truth Social platform, he wrote, “The people are desperate for me to Stop the crime, something the Democrats aren’t capable of doing.”
Despite Trump’s repeated characterisation of Chicago as a “war zone”, city data shows violent crime has fallen sharply. According to AP, in the first half of 2025, total violent crime dropped by more than 22 per cent compared with the same period in 2024. Still, with 573 homicides last year, Chicago recorded more killings than any other US city.
Governor Pritzker has argued there is no emergency justifying military intervention, accusing Trump of pursuing a political agenda ahead of the 2026 elections. “This is a part of his plan to do something really nefarious, which is to interfere with elections,” Pritzker was quoted as saying by AP.
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