Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker posted a video on X declaring that “Donald Trump is learning from the courts that you don’t mess with the Midwest.” The message references a recent U.S. District Court order in the case Illinois v. Trump over the Trump administration’s attempted deployment of National Guard troops to the state. Court records show Judge April Perry dismissed the case at the request of the Department of Justice. The post has drawn sharp online reactions, with supporters viewing it as a stand against federal overreach and critics accusing Pritzker of mischaracterizing the dismissal. Reactions online have been mixed, with both criticism and support emerging in response to the post.
In the clip, Pritzker states: “Donald Trump is learning from the courts that you don’t mess with the Midwest.” The video shows him speaking directly to the camera while walking outdoors. It does not include additional footage of court proceedings or interactions with federal officials.
The post references the dismissal of the case Illinois v. Trump, which challenged the Trump administration’s attempt to deploy National Guard troops in Illinois. U.S. District Judge April Perry dismissed the lawsuit at the request of the Department of Justice, with the matter deemed moot following prior court blocks on the deployment. Pritzker’s office has described the outcome as a win against federal overreach.
Public Responses to the Governor’s Statement
Some users criticized the governor’s statement, with one commenting, “Say what? I can’t hear ya. You got something stuck in your mouth.” Others questioned the legal framing, noting: “RUBBISH! Facts: U.S. District Judge April Perry did not rule on the case, only dismissed it at the request of the DOJ.”
Several commenters criticized Pritzker’s focus, with one writing, “Your obsession with Trump is at a stalker level. How about taking care of your state’s legal constituents and worry less about Trump, who couldn’t care less about you.”
Another added, “I am so glad I moved from IL. I took my tax dollars, my business, and several of my employees to a state that appreciates business and does not rape and abuse its residents.”
Critics also highlighted state issues, stating, “Did you know Illinois ranks near the bottom in all national categories? You are a superstar at being a failure, but crime is way down, so you can thank Trump for that.” Supporters of the post were present but less prominent in the sampled replies.
The post remains active on X, adding to the steady stream of exchanges between Democratic state leaders and the Trump administration. It continues to draw comments from both supporters and critics of the governor as the legal and political disagreements play out.
