CHICAGO (WGN) — The chair of the Illinois Republicans on Monday blasted Gov. JB Pritzker, labeling his remarks at a dinner with New Hampshire Democrats a day earlier as "inflammatory and dangerous."
"JB Pritzker’s ego-driven obsession with becoming President is putting Illinois, and Republicans across the country, at risk," Kathy Salvi said in a statement. "His inflammatory and dangerous speech is focused on further dividing our country and I hope to see Illinois Democrats condemn his call for violence."
Cook County Commissioner Sean Morrison also dubbed Pritzker’s remarks as "reckless" and "an invitation to violence."
If he aspires to a higher office, Pritzker isn’t admitting it, but his appearance in New Hampshire is a traditional stop for potential presidential candidates. In his remarks at the McIntyre-Shaheen 100 Club Dinner on Sunday, a major fundraiser for the party, the governor said Republicans in control of the federal government "cannot know a moment of peace."
“Never before in my life have I called for mass protests, for mobilization, for disruption. But I am now," he said.
On Monday, in a stop before University of Illinois-Chicago students and leadership on what he calls his "Standing Up for Illinois’ tour to protect Illinois from the Trump administration, Pritzker insisted he was not calling for violence.
"I called for people to take out their megaphones and their microphones, to stand up on soap boxes and get to the ballot box," he said.
Despite Pritzker’s efforts to clarify his comments, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller told reporters that Pritzker’s comments could be construed as inciting violence.
