Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker slammed President Donald Trump as a “cheater” and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott as a “joke” days after welcoming Texas Democrats who fled their state in protest of GOP-led redistricting efforts.
“Governor Abbott is the joke,” Pritzker, a Democrat, instructed NBC Information’ “Meet the Press” in an interview that aired Sunday in response to Abbott calling Illinois’ congressional map a “joke.”
“He is the one who’s trying mid-decade right here — at a time when, frankly, all of us are involved about the way forward for democracy. He is actually serving to whittle it away and licking the boots of his chief, Donald Trump,” Pritzker added.
Pritzker additionally defended himself in opposition to allegations that Illinois’ congressional map is gerrymandered. Trump received 44% of the statewide vote in 2024 however Republicans maintain solely three of the state’s 17 Home districts.
“We held public hearings, legislative hearings. Folks attended them. They spoke out. There was a map that was put out. There have been really modifications made to the map. And a map was handed, and it was achieved on the finish of the census, the decennial census. In order that’s the way it’s achieved on this nation,” Pritzker stated.
He went on to say, “That is — it is dishonest. Donald Trump is a cheater. He cheats on his wives, he cheats at golf, and now he is making an attempt to cheat the American folks out of their votes.”
Democratic state legislators from Texas have been huddling in Illinois and different blue states after leaving the state to disclaim GOP leaders a quorum within the state Home. Republicans have repeatedly tried to maneuver ahead with their legislative plans, however have fallen in need of the 100 folks needed for a quorum.
Abbott and his Republican allies late final month unveiled plans to attract new congressional district traces within the state that might assure their celebration as much as 5 further protected Republican seats in Congress. The method of redrawing district traces historically occurs solely as soon as a decade, after the decennial census is performed.
Abbott has clashed with Democrats within the legislature up to now and GOP leaders in Texas have threatened the Democratic legislators with suspension of pay and civil arrests in the event that they don’t return to the statehouse.
“Democrats act like they’re not going to return again so long as this is a matter. Meaning they’re not going to return again till like 2027 or 2028, as a result of I’m going to name particular session after particular session after particular session with the identical agenda objects on there,” Abbott instructed NBC Information in an interview Thursday.
Trump has defended Abbott and Texas Republicans’ efforts to attract new maps that favor the GOP, telling CNBC’s Squawk Field, “We’ve got a chance in Texas to choose up 5 seats. We’ve got a extremely good governor, and we’ve got good folks in Texas. And I received Texas.”
“I bought the best vote within the historical past of Texas, as you in all probability know, and we’re entitled to 5 extra seats,” he added.
Throughout the “Meet the Press” interview, Pritzker additionally responded to experiences that the FBI granted a request from Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, who’s operating for re-election in 2026, to assist monitor down the Democratic state legislators who fled Texas.
“There is not any federal regulation that will enable the FBI to arrest anyone that is right here visiting our state,” Pritzker stated. “So it is loads of grandstanding. That is what that is all about.”
Pritzger was additionally requested concerning the struggle in Gaza and a Senate decision this week to dam arms gross sales to Israel amid the humanitarian disaster in Gaza.
“I feel that the decision that was put up in america Senate was an effort to ship a message. And it’s the correct of a message, which is that Israel must ensure that the meals help that must go to harmless Palestinians ought to arrive there,” he stated. “And they need to do every part of their energy to forestall the hunger that I feel we’ve all seen.”
