Right-wing media falsely accused Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker of supporting violence against Republicans following his April 27 speech calling on Americans to protest congressional Republicans and the Trump administration.
Andrea Austria / Media Matters
Research/Study
JB Pritzker called for mass protests. Right-wing media falsely accused him of calling for violence.
Conservative commentators insist the Illinois governor’s call for “mass protests” and “disruption” is a dangerous threat against Republicans
Written by Reed McMaster
Research contributions from Casey Wexler, Alicia Sadowski & Isabella Corrao
Published
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Pritzker’s speech focused on the need for Americans to use their constitutional rights and demonstrate publicly against the Trump administration’s actions
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- Giving a speech in New Hampshire, Pritzker called for “mass protests” of the Trump administration and declared that Republicans “cannot know a moment of peace.” “It’s time to fight everywhere and all at once,” he added. “Never before in my life have I called for mass protests, for mobilization, for disruption. But I am now.” He did not call for any violence, however, and instead declared that Republicans “must understand that we will fight their cruelty with every megaphone and microphone that we have.” [The Guardian, 4/28/25]
- Pritzker specifically said he wanted Republicans to be called out verbally and voted out of office, without mention of violence. He said, “We must castigate them on the soap box and then punish them at the ballot box.” [YouTube, NBC Chicago, 4/27/25]
- Pritzker’s endorsement of protest was the culmination of his speech detailing the Trump administration’s attacks on the economy and civil rights. The Democratic governor called for pushback against the Trump administration’s attacks on health care, federal workers, autistic people, and women and LGBTQ people in the military. [The Washington Post, 4/27/25]
- The right to protest is protected under the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights. As the American Civil Liberties Union explains, “The First Amendment protects your right to express yourself and to testify before, petition, and protest the many branches and agencies of the local and federal government.” [ACLU, 8/15/24]
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Right-wing commentators labeled Pritzker’s comments as “violent” and conflated calls for protest with calls for violence
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- Fox host Sean Hannity claimed that Pritzker “all but threatened half the country with violence” in his speech. According to Hannity, the “Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has big dreams of one day becoming president. By the way, he will be about as lucky as Gavin Newsom. And over the weekend in New Hampshire, the governor all but threatened half the country with violence.” [Fox News, Hannity, 4/28/25]
- Right-wing YouTuber Benny Johnson wrote, “Gov. Pritzker incites violence against Trump supporters by telling the left to take over the streets so ‘Republicans cannot have peace.’” [Twitter/X, 4/27/25]
- Anti-LGBTQ influencer Chaya Raichik on her account “Libs of TikTok” claimed Pritzker’s comments sounded “like a call to violence” and tagged the FBI. Raichik posted, “Illinois governor JB Pritzker (D) calls for ‘mass protests’ and ‘disruption.’ ‘These Republicans cannot know a moment of peace!’ Sounds like a call to violence.. @FBI.” [Twitter/X, 4/27/25]
- Fox host Lara Trump claimed that Pritzker “sounded pretty violent to me.” Trump said, “You have JB Pritzker out there by the way, suggesting — I don't know, it sounded pretty violent to me. You have people saying we are going to go back to the old resist playbook, let's impeach Donald Trump.” [Fox News, Hannity, 4/28/25]
- Fox host Will Cain said Pritzker was “inciting the left to unleash against the GOP,” claiming his speech was an example of “dangerous” rhetoric that “has led to at least two attempts on President Trump's life.” [Fox, The Will Cain Show, 4/28/25]
- Failed Republican Senate candidate Tiffany Smiley posted, “JB Pritzker is a sitting governor and future Democrat presidential candidate calling for violence against Republicans. … Imagine if President Trump said that!” [Twitter/X, 4/28/25]
- Former Republican National Committee rapid response director Steve Guest wrote that Pritzker “is calling for violence against Republicans. Sick.” [Twitter/X, 4/27/25]
- Conservative YouTuber DeVory Darkins shared a video of Trump adviser Stephen Miller saying Pritzker’s speech “puts the lives of conservative Americans in danger” and claimed “the ones throwing Molotov cocktails and launching real violence are on the Democrats.” [Twitter/X, 4/28/25]
- Federalist Society co-founder and former GOP Rep. David McIntosh claimed, “Pritzker is blatantly calling for violence against Republicans. Disgusting.” [Twitter/X, 4/28/25]
- Right-wing podcast host Tim Pool claimed Pritzker “just gave carte blanche for the far-left extremists to go and riot.” Pool said Pritzker “is just a wealthy billionaire scumbag who wants to run for office. And so he's demagoguing. You know, they're doing exactly what they accuse Trump of doing, but they do it themselves. They violate the Constitution. They call for violence in mass uprisings. And they do it because they want power.” [YouTube, TimCast IRL, 4/29/25]