JB Pritzker对Donald Trump的“ Slob”言论做出了反应

5 months ago

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker responded after President Donald Trump called the Democrat a "slob" and that he should "spend more time in the gym" during remarks on Monday at the White House.

Pritzker, 60, said Monday afternoon, "From my perspective, it takes one to know one on the weight question. The president himself is not in good shape. He ought to respond to that from me."

Newsweek reached out to Pritzker's office for further comment via email.

Why It Matters

Trump is in a standoff with the Illinois governor over reported plans to deploy the National Guard and other armed forces into Chicago, similar to Washington, D.C.

Chicago has long been a focus, alongside other Democrat-run cities, for Trump and the wider Republican Party as examples of high crime levels, despite data not always showing such an issue.

What To Know

At 79, Trump has faced renewed questions about his own health after being spotted with bruising on his hands and swelling in his ankles. His physician, according to the White House, attributed the bruises to handshaking and aspirin use.

Trump has been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a circulatory issue common in older adults. There have been renewed calls to release all of the president's medical records.

In April, the White House physician listed Trump's height as 6 feet, 3 inches, while his weight was 224 pounds. There have been no public announcements on Pritzker's health statistics.

On Monday, Trump called Pritzker a bad politician who should spend more time in the gym, before also criticizing California's Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom and his leadership.

Later Monday in Chicago, Pritzker said Trump's personal attacks were evidence of a "guy who's still living in fifth grade."

Pritzker, along with other Democratic leaders, held a press conference in response to Trump saying that Chicago will likely be the next target of his efforts to crack down on crime, homelessness and illegal immigration.

Crime Rates in Chicago

In response to Trump's messaging that Chicago would be the next target for a federal takeover, the city's Democratic Mayor Brandon Johnson released updated crime statistics, stating that reducing violent crime had been his primary focus.

In the first six months of the year, the mayor's office said, Chicago had seen a 33 percent reduction in homicides and a 38 percent reduction in shootings.

Other crimes had also seen reductions, the statistics showed, with overall violent crime down 21.6 percent, and vehicle hijackings dropping 49 percent.

The city has also surged resources into the Chicago Police Department and mental health support services, Johnson said.

How Long Has Pritzker Served as Governor of Illinois?

Pritzker has been in office as the governor of Illinois since 2019.

He has been one of the loudest voices among senior Democrats in calling out Trump, particularly around immigration.

During the 2024 presidential race, Pritzker was one of the rumored vice presidential candidates for Democratic Party nominee Kamala Harris. She later offered the role to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.

What People Are Saying

President Donald Trump, in the Oval Office, Monday: "I made the statement that next should be Chicago, because as you all know Chicago is a killing field right now. And they don't acknowledge it."

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson's office, in a press release: "Mayor Johnson's primary focus over his first two years in office has been driving down violent crime in Chicago. Since taking office, Chicago has recorded historic reductions in crime and violence as the Johnson administration has implemented a holistic approach to community safety."

Northwestern University Professor Paul Gowder told Newsweek: "We're in uncharted territory, and probably for good reason. No president has ever tried to do anything like this. While presidents have invoked the Insurrection Act to bring in the military to address domestic unrest, this has typically been in response to actual rebellions and various other kinds of mob action (plus some really ugly abuses in the early days of the labor movement against strikers), and hasn't been against the will of state governments."