Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has voiced serious concerns about how former President Donald Trump might respond to the escalating controversy surrounding newly released documents connecting him to Jeffrey Epstein. In a comprehensive interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday, the Democratic governor outlined his fears about potential distraction tactics.
Fear of Military Conflict as Distraction
Pritzker expressed his "great fear" that Trump would employ extreme measures to divert public attention from the damaging Epstein documents. "With the release of that information, which I think will be devastating for Trump, he's going to do everything in his power to distract," Pritzker stated. The governor specifically raised the alarming possibility that Trump "might take us to war with Venezuela just to get a distraction in the news and take it out of the headlines."
The Epstein documents have reignited scrutiny of Trump's relationship with the convicted sex offender. A 2019 email from Epstein to a journalist claimed that Trump "knew about the girls," though the exact nature of what Trump knew remains unclear. The White House has accused Democrats of selectively leaking emails to damage the president.
Criticism Within Democratic Ranks
Pritzker, widely considered a top contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028, didn't limit his criticism to Trump. He directed sharp words toward members of his own party who he believes are undermining Democratic efforts. The governor described the decision by seven Democratic senators and one independent to side with Republicans in ending the government shutdown as an "enormous mistake" that benefited Trump.
"I've been on team fight from the very beginning," Pritzker emphasized. "And I don't appreciate when we've got Democrats who are caving in and doing basically what the Trump administration wants." He expressed particular confusion about the timing of the compromise, noting that Democrats had achieved significant electoral victories just last week. "We were winning. I do not understand why people caved when we were on the verge of getting real change."
Among those receiving Pritzker's criticism was Senator Dick Durbin, Illinois' own senior senator, who voted for the shutdown deal.
Direct Experience with Trump's Tactics
Pritzker's concerns about Trump's methods come from firsthand experience with what he describes as "the militarization of our American cities." The governor has witnessed federal agents conducting extensive operations in Chicago and surrounding suburbs through "Operation Midway Blitz."
Since September, more than 3,300 people suspected of immigration violations have been arrested in operations that sometimes involved helicopters, tear gas, and nighttime raids. Pritzker warned that this large-scale immigration crackdown would soon expand to other states, noting he had recently spoken with North Carolina Governor Josh Stein about reports that federal forces might be deployed in Charlotte.
"This is part of the militarization of our American cities that Donald Trump is engaging in," Pritzker stated. "And it's dangerous. It shouldn't happen, but he's got a purpose behind it. And it's to affect our elections in 2026." The governor expressed hope that "pushback will finally lead them to ratchet down their efforts."
Pritzker, an heir to the Hyatt hotel fortune, has emerged as one of Trump's most vocal Democratic critics since the president's reelection. During Wednesday's interview, he didn't mince words in his assessment of Trump's mental state, describing him as "a narcissist" and stating he believes the president "has dementia."
