President Donald Trump directed criticism at Illinois Governor JB Pritzker during a speech following the annual turkey pardon at the White House. Trump referred to Pritzker as a 'big, fat slob' and labeled Chicago as a 'crime-riddled hellhole,' indicating a desire to deploy federal troops to the city. This statement followed a violent incident on November 17, where a 26-year-old woman was attacked on a Chicago train.

Trump has previously expressed a strong interest in Chicago, particularly after his administration's militarized response to protests in other cities. He has consistently attributed crime issues in Chicago to the leadership of the Democratic Party, specifically targeting Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.

In response to Trump's remarks, Pritzker emphasized the inappropriateness of a president suggesting that a state should plead for federal intervention, questioning the normalization of such rhetoric. He asserted that there was no emergency justifying the deployment of troops and criticized Trump for disparaging Chicago.

Trump's comments included references to his past successes with African American voters, suggesting that there is a demand for federal assistance in Chicago. He has also made provocative statements regarding the National Guard's potential presence in the city, which he framed in a militaristic context.

Pritzker's rebuttal highlighted concerns about the implications of Trump's approach, framing it as an insult to the residents of Chicago. The ongoing dialogue reflects broader tensions regarding federal intervention in local governance and the portrayal of urban areas in political discourse.