Pritzker Accuses Trump of National Guard Election Interference Plans on MSNBC [WATCH]

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker accused President Donald Trump of deploying the National Guard as part of a broader effort to interfere with future elections during an appearance Friday on MSNBC’s “The Briefing.”

Speaking with host Jen Psaki, Pritzker claimed the Trump administration’s use of the National Guard has little to do with crime prevention or immigration enforcement.

Instead, he argued it is designed to influence the outcomes of upcoming elections.

“It has nothing to do with fighting crime. Honestly sending National Guard in has nothing to do with immigration either. What it has to do with is he’s trying to set the stage for interference in the elections in 2026 and in 2028,” Pritzker said.

Psaki pressed Pritzker to clarify his concerns, suggesting that his remarks implied a military presence on the streets could affect voter participation.

“I know you’ve made that point before, and that made my ears perk up, and it should be alarming to anyone. What does that look like? Because it sounds like you’re saying there’s going to be military in the streets that are going to prevent people from participating in the elections. Is that it or it’s something else?” Psaki asked.

In response, Pritzker suggested that federal authorities under Trump could intervene directly in the administration of elections.

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“It could be that it also could be claiming that there’s something wrong with the election results or the counting of ballots so they’re going to take control of the ballot boxes,” Pritzker said.

“Why do I say this? I mean why do I suspect that is in fact what they’re doing? Well, look at the history here. Donald Trump encouraged people to be part of a Stop the Steal Movement in 2020 when he lost the election. He then went out and fomented engagement in this activity to deny the election and then fomented the January 6th protesters to do what they did, which is attack the Capitol. Then he pardoned them after they were found to have committed criminal acts. And then let’s fast forward to today’s back in office. and he’s talking. about maybe people would like a dictatorship. He said that publicly.”

Pritzker’s comments reflect ongoing disputes between Democratic leaders and the Trump administration over the use of federal resources in states and cities.

Trump has repeatedly defended his authority to deploy the National Guard in response to crime surges and public safety threats, while Democratic governors and mayors have criticized such actions as overreach.

The exchange with Psaki highlights concerns expressed by Pritzker and other Democratic officials about the implications of federal involvement in local election processes.

Pritzker tied his warnings directly to Trump’s political history, citing the Stop the Steal movement and the events of January 6, 2021, as evidence for his suspicions.

Pritzker’s interview on “The Briefing” underscores an intensifying national debate over election security, presidential authority, and the balance of power between state and federal governments.

With future election cycles approaching, his comments indicate that the use of federal personnel, including the National Guard, will remain a flashpoint in partisan disputes over how elections are conducted and safeguarded in the United States.