President Donald Trump’s proposal to deploy the National Guard to Chicago has drawn strong pushback from Illinois leaders, who maintain the state has not asked for assistance and sees no need for it. The plan surfaced after Trump signed an executive order authorizing federal troops to respond to what the White House described as “domestic unrest” in several U.S. cities. Chicago was not named directly, yet officials acknowledged the city is under consideration, setting off concern from Springfield to City Hall.

On Monday, Governor J.B. Pritzker put his opposition on the record. “Do not come to Chicago,” he told the president, describing the matter as both an issue of authority and protection. Under federal law, the Guard is normally activated at a governor’s request, except in rare cases l

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