As the 2028 election looms on the horizon, Democrats are once again scrambling to figure out how to stop Donald J. Trump. But while party leaders wrestle with strategy behind closed doors, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker is stepping onto center stage—and swinging wildly.
In what some are calling an early audition for a presidential run, the billionaire governor has been ramping up his attacks on Trump. Whether he’s at a political event or a late-night TV studio, Pritzker’s jabs have become sharper, louder, and more personal.
But conservatives say his rhetoric is not only false—it’s dangerous.
At a recent event in New Hampshire, Pritzker rolled out a familiar list of debunked accusations:
- Trump is “an authoritarian”
- Trump “hates” the military
- Trump is “disparaging the very foundation of Judaism”
And he didn’t stop there. In his February State of the State address, Pritzker invoked Nazi Germany—yes, really—saying Trump’s tone mirrors that of Adolf Hitler. The Illinois governor, who is Jewish and part of the billionaire Pritzker family that owns the Hyatt hotel chain, isn’t exactly trying to tone things down.
Even on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Pritzker doubled down, throwing out nicknames before Trump could strike first. “One is of course JBurger,” he said jokingly. “Or this is my favorite, JBeefy.”
It’s not hard to see what he’s trying to do: craft the image of a scrappy, two-fisted “man of the people” who can go toe-to-toe with Trump. But Republican critics say it’s all noise—and dangerous noise at that.
Illinois GOP Chair Kathy Salvi issued a warning in response to Pritzker’s harsh rhetoric. “This is inflammatory and dangerous speech,” she said in a statement. “This isn’t just political theater—words like these can incite real-world consequences.”
Stephen Miller, longtime Trump adviser, echoed that concern, telling reporters:
“Pritzker’s comments, if nothing else, could be construed as inciting violence. People are engaging in rhetoric and behavior that puts the lives of public servants in danger, puts the lives of conservative Americans in danger.”
Even Donald Trump Jr. weighed in, taking to X (formerly Twitter) with a pointed message aimed at Pritzker:
“Are you trying to inspire a 3rd assassination attempt on my dad? Two wasn’t enough for you?”
That’s the level of concern rising among Trump supporters—and it’s not without reason, considering the political violence of recent years.
Democrats see Pritzker as a potential Trump-like figure for their side: wealthy, outspoken, and unapologetically combative. Some insiders are even calling him the party’s “one-two punch.”
Ray Buckley, chair of the New Hampshire Democratic Party, said:
“He not only takes on Trump, he also lays out an effective message that we support our values, we stand up for our values, that we speak for those who need a voice, we don’t leave anybody behind.”
But critics say Pritzker’s message is hollow and hypocritical—high on theatrics, low on substance. His recent campaign video featured a young man who claimed to lose a national security job due to Trump-era cuts, but the narrative has been met with skepticism from Republicans who argue it’s more emotional bait than factual reality.
Of course, Trump himself hasn’t stayed silent. While he hasn’t yet christened Pritzker with one of his famous nicknames, he has taken playful aim at the governor’s weight and appetite.
At a campaign stop last year, Trump said:
“He wants to eat all the time,” drawing laughs from the crowd.
Pritzker, clearly aware of Trump’s reputation for branding opponents, tried to beat him to the punch by offering his own nicknames on Jimmy Kimmel Live. But let’s be honest—nobody out-nicknames Trump.
Democratic strategists seem excited about Pritzker’s potential. “He’s meeting the Democratic base where it is,” said Alex Conant, a Republican strategist who worked on Marco Rubio’s 2016 campaign. But that’s exactly the problem.
Meeting the Democrat base doesn’t win general elections. Just ask Hillary Clinton. Or Joe Biden’s polling team.
With Democrat approval ratings hitting historic lows and Trump’s MAGA base as energized as ever, it remains to be seen whether Pritzker’s aggressive rhetoric will resonate beyond liberal strongholds. Americans outside the bubble may not respond well to constant comparisons to dictators and over-the-top accusations.
Despite endless attacks from media and political opponents, Trump has already won two elections—and polls suggest he remains a serious threat to any Democrat challenger in 2028.
If JB Pritzker truly is the best the Democrats have to offer, Trump supporters might be sleeping a little easier. A billionaire governor yelling about fascism on late-night TV might excite the far-left Twitter crowd—but it’s unlikely to move the needle in Middle America, where voters are more concerned with inflation, border security, and the price of gas than celebrity politics.
