(NewsNation) — Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker called out President Donald Trump for his response to the fatal shooting of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk on Monday.
“This is a moment when America must come together and say clearly that threats and political violence are not the answer,” he said.
Pritzker began his press conference with an update on how immigration actions targeting the Chicago area have impacted residents.
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Pritzker, a Democrat, and Trump have been at odds over the surge of federal officers to the region as part of Trump’s mass deportation effort.
Pritzker then pivoted to the issue of political violence, as he noted that there has been a trend in political violence over the past few years.
The governor detailed a number of violent attacks perpetrated against people on both sides of the aisle.
He noted that every president in his lifetime but one has called on the country to come together in the wake of such violence, calling out Trump for failing to bring a message of togetherness regardless of party.
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When asked, Pritzker denied reports that he called Republicans Nazis and told the reporter that anyone who said he did was lying.
As for his decision to specifically mention Trump, Pritzker said that anyone who was “fomenting anger” in the wake of political violence is deserving of criticism.
