A staunch Republican ally has just thrown a curveball at President Donald Trump’s crime-fighting strategy.
The Daily Mail reported that Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, a dedicated Trump supporter and head of the National Governors Association, has become the first major GOP figure to openly criticize the president’s decision to deploy National Guard troops to tackle crime in multiple cities.
Trump’s plan kicked off with National Guard deployments to Washington, D.C., and Memphis, Tennessee, aimed at bolstering local law enforcement against rising crime rates.
Police stats show a notable drop in crime in D.C. since the troops arrived, suggesting the strategy might have some teeth. But not everyone’s cheering from the sidelines.
Things got spicier when Trump ordered the Texas National Guard to roll into Chicago to address the city’s well-documented crime woes. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker didn’t just disagree—he mocked the move, even filming a skit in a bulletproof vest to poke fun at Trump’s concerns. Talk about a theatrical jab at a serious issue.
Enter Gov. Stitt, who’s raising eyebrows with his skepticism about Texas Gov. Greg Abbott sending troops across state lines to handle Illinois’ problems.
“I was surprised that Governor Abbott sent troops from Texas to Illinois,” Stitt said, pointing to a breach in the federalist principles conservatives often champion (Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt). That’s a polite but pointed nudge at a fellow Republican.
Stitt’s critique isn’t just a random grumble—he’s long been a defender of states’ rights. “We believe in the federalist system — that’s states’ rights,” he declared, making it clear he thinks Trump should’ve federalized Illinois’ own National Guard instead of pulling in out-of-state forces. It’s a classic conservative argument: keep the feds and other states out of local messes.
The plot thickened when a federal judge slammed the brakes on the Texas National Guard’s Chicago deployment, blocking its legal authority and stalling the effort for at least two weeks.
That’s a win for critics like Pritzker, but it leaves Chicago’s crime crisis in limbo. Meanwhile, demonstrators are taking to the streets, venting frustration at local authorities and immigration officials.
Stitt’s not alone in his unease, though he’s the loudest GOP voice so far. He’s previously teamed up with Abbott to push back against federal overreach during the Biden administration, challenging mandates on vaccinations and masks for soldiers. That history makes his current stance all the more intriguing—a conservative rift over principle, not personality.
With Stitt and Abbott set to cross paths at a high-profile college football game in Dallas this weekend, you can bet this National Guard drama will be a hot topic on the sidelines. Will they hash it out over hot dogs and handshakes? Only time will tell, but the tension is palpable.
Stitt’s position isn’t about undermining Trump’s goals but questioning the playbook. He’s argued that sending troops from one state to another sets a dangerous precedent, one that could backfire if a progressive governor tried the same stunt on a red state. It’s a fair point—conservatives have long bristled at overreach, no matter who’s in charge.
Chicago’s crime problem isn’t a laughing matter, despite Pritzker’s antics, and Trump’s push to intervene shows a willingness to act where local leaders falter.
But Stitt’s call for a more localized approach—using Illinois’ own Guard—might resonate with conservatives who fear a slippery slope toward federal heavy-handedness. It’s a delicate balance between action and autonomy.
Meanwhile, the streets of Chicago remain a battleground, both literally and politically. Protesters continue to clash with authorities, amplifying the chaos Trump sought to curb. Yet with legal hurdles and now GOP dissent, the path forward is anything but clear.
For Trump supporters, Stitt’s criticism might sting, but it’s hard to dismiss a man who’s stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the president on countless issues.
His voice carries weight, especially as head of the National Governors Association, and could signal deeper cracks in GOP unity on federal-state dynamics.
Crime in cities like Chicago and D.C. demands solutions, not skits or stalled deployments, and Trump’s bold moves have shown results in at least one locale. But if even loyal allies like Stitt are pushing back, the administration might need to rethink its strategy—or at least its messaging—to keep the base on board.
