Washington: US President Donald Trump has demanded the jailing of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, both Democrats, accusing them of failing to protect federal immigration officers.
His remarks came as his administration prepared to deploy National Guard troops to Chicago, the country’s third-largest city, despite strong opposition from state and local officials.
“Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing to protect ICE Officers! Governor Pritzker also!” Trump wrote on his social media platform, referring to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel.
Hundreds of Texas National Guard soldiers have already assembled at an Army facility outside Chicago, even as Governor Pritzker, Mayor Johnson, and other Democratic leaders voiced objections to the move. Trump has also threatened to deploy troops to other US cities facing similar disputes.
The president’s call to imprison his political opponents coincides with former FBI Director James Comey’s court appearance to face criminal charges, an action critics have described as politically motivated. Trump has repeatedly called for jailing his rivals since entering politics in 2015, but Comey is the first to face prosecution.
