JB Pritzker dubs Trump a 'wannabe dictator' after POTUS' AI meme warning Chicago of Department of War

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: Illinois Governor JB Pritzker sharply criticized President Donald Trump for mocking immigration enforcement with an online post that depicted Chicago under siege.

This came after the commander-in-chief posted an AI-generated 'Apocalypse Now'-style meme that showed the city burning with military imagery on Saturday, September 6, sparking strong responses from Illinois leaders and netizens.

JB Pritzker slams Donald Trump over AI meme threatening Chicago

JB Pritzker did not hold back and wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter), “The President of the United States is threatening to go to war with an American city. This is not a joke. This is not normal.”

"Donald Trump isn’t a strongman, he’s a scared man," the Democrat stressed, adding, "Illinois won’t be intimidated by a wannabe dictator."

The post that triggered the backlash showed Trump’s likeness as Lieutenant Colonel Bill Kilgore from the 1979 film 'Apocalypse Now', set against a backdrop of helicopters and flames.

The caption read, "I love the smell of deportations in the morning," echoing the iconic line, "I love the smell of napalm in the morning."

It further said, "Chicago about to find out why it’s called the Department of WAR," echoing the rebrand of the Department of Defense to the Department of War. 

Brandon Johnson warns of occupation as Trump targets Chicago

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson also condemned Donald Trump’s post, calling it “beneath the honor of our nation.”

“But the reality is that he wants to occupy our city and break our Constitution,” he wrote on X. “We must defend our democracy from this authoritarianism by protecting each other and protecting Chicago from Donald Trump.”

The comments came as Trump has already signaled plans to make Chicago a target for tougher immigration and crime enforcement. His administration is considering the use of a Navy base near the city for migrant detention operations, the White House confirmed.

Trump recently signed an executive order rebranding the Defense Department as the “Department of War” and has threatened to send National Guard troops to Chicago.

He pointed to what he described as a successful takeover of Washington, DC, as justification.

Internet reacts to Trump’s Chicago meme and Pritzker’s pushback

Social media users quickly weighed in on the growing controversy between Donald Trump and JB Pritzker, with one saying, “You must do what he says - governors answer to the president. You may not have voted for him, but as a federal official, he is your boss.”

Another wrote, “It's funny seeing him constantly AI generate himself in a uniform. While he himself ran away and used his money to avoid military service.”

Others sided with Pritzker, with one writing, “Hell yes, Governor, we stand with you against this tyranny. We will defend Chicago.”

An individual urged action, stating, “Congress you need to stop this.”

“It’s simple, clean up your city and so he doesn’t have to come in,” one more suggested. 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.