Gov. JB Pritzker (D-Ill.) criticized the White House in a social media post, arguing that leaders should prioritize empathy and compassion over policies or rhetoric he described as cruel and racially motivated.
Pritzker Criticizes White House
On Monday, Pritzker shared a clip on X in which he urged political leaders to show greater concern for people facing hardship and accused some leaders of using harsh approaches to project strength.
He said, "A message to the White House: Racism doesn’t make you tough. It just makes you a racist."
In the clip, Pritzker said leaders should be held accountable for how they treat vulnerable communities.
"It’s time to demand from our leaders that they show empathy to the struggling, compassion to the destitute," he said.
The Illinois governor also criticized the idea that aggressive or punitive actions demonstrate strength.
"I don’t think cruelty is some virtue that shows us how much of a man you are," Pritzker said.
White House did not immediately respond to Benzinga’s request for comments.
A message to the White House:
— JB Pritzker (@JBPritzker) July 13, 2026
Racism doesn't make you tough.
It just makes you a racist. pic.twitter.com/ROVGBIsyJ0
Pritzker Slams Trump Over Spending Priorities
Earlier, Pritzker criticized President Donald Trump’s spending priorities, tariffs and Republican-backed policies, arguing they hurt working families while prioritizing projects linked to the White House.
He accused Trump of opposing funding for programs like Medicaid and SNAP while supporting spending on projects such as a proposed White House ballroom, an "Arc de Trump" and a helipad.
He argued that federal spending appeared unlimited when it benefited the president.
The governor also blamed Trump’s tariffs and policies for increasing the costs of groceries, gas, health care and other essentials.
Pritzker highlighted Illinois measures aimed at reducing expenses, including fee cuts, a pause on a planned gas tax increase, tax exemptions on school supplies and insurance cost regulations.
He accused Trump of abusing presidential power and targeting political opponents after facing legal and electoral setbacks.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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