Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican, criticized President Trump’s decision to deploy Texas National Guard troops to Illinois, accusing the move of undermining states’ rights. Stitt, who serves as chair of the National Governors Association (NGA), discussed the issue in an interview, highlighting his opposition to the cross-state military action.
“I was surprised that Governor Abbott sent troops from Texas to Illinois,” Stitt said, according to reports. He referenced past legal battles with the Biden administration over mandates for vaccine requirements and mask policies, stating, “As a federalist believer, one governor against another governor, I don’t think that’s the right way to approach this.”
Stitt became the first Republican governor to publicly challenge Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops across state lines. Approximately 200 Texas National Guard soldiers and 300 Illinois National Guard members were activated in the Chicago area by Wednesday night, per U.S. Northern Command updates.
While Stitt expressed support for Trump’s broader goals of restoring “law and order” in Democratic-run cities and protecting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, he raised concerns about the precedent set by the deployment. He warned that future administrations could exploit such actions, noting, “Oklahomans would lose their mind if Pritzker in Illinois sent troops down to Oklahoma during the Biden administration.”
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott defended the move, stating, “The elite Texas National Guard are on the ground and ready to go. They are putting America first by ensuring that the federal government can safely enforce federal law.” Abbott emphasized the Guard’s readiness and expertise, claiming they “defend our country with pride.”
Democratic leaders, including Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, have opposed the deployment, filing lawsuits to block it. They also threatened to exit the NGA unless the organization condemned the interstate National Guard actions. Stitt dismissed these demands, citing the NGA’s tax-exempt nonprofit status.