Trump Says He Won’t Send Guard to Chicago Until He Gets Request From Illinois Governor

‘Mr. President, do not come to Chicago. You are neither wanted here nor needed here,’ Pritzker said.

Attorney General Pam Bondi (L), Vice President JD Vance (2nd L), Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (2nd R) and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem (R) look on as President Donald Trump (C) speaks to the press before signing an executive order that aims to end cashless bail, in the Oval Office of the White House, on Aug. 25, 2025. Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

President Donald Trump said on Aug. 25 that while the federal government “should probably just go in and do it,” he’s not going to send any federal troops to assist with law enforcement in Chicago until he gets a request from Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker.

The president made the comments after he was asked by reporters in the Oval Office whether he was prepared to send the National Guard into American cities for law enforcement without a request from state authorities, a move that would likely be met with court challenges.