U.S. President Donald Trump sparked major controversy after stating on his Truth Social platform that Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (both Democrats) “should go to prison” for failing to protect ICE officers and rejecting his proposed military deployment.
Trump accused local authorities of refusing to cooperate with his national security strategy and claimed they were neglecting their duties. In response, Pritzker called Trump’s remarks “authoritarian” and argued that the administration has no legal basis to order the arrest of elected officials.
The controversy unfolds amid ongoing disputes over the use of the National Guard and the federal government’s role in progressive sanctuary cities.
Is it legally possible to imprison governors and mayors for disagreeing with Trump?
No, it isn’t. In the United States, elected officials have legal protections and can only be prosecuted through due judicial process. Trump’s statements may be crossing institutional boundaries and could raise serious constitutional concerns.
