WASHINGTON – Governor J.B. Pritzker of Illinois has expressed concern about President Donald Trump’s potential reaction to escalating issues connected to documents linking him to Jeffrey Epstein.

During an extensive interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday, Pritzker shared his apprehensions. “My biggest fear is that once this information is out, which I believe will be quite damaging to Trump, he will try everything possible to divert attention,” Pritzker remarked. “What might that entail? He could potentially instigate a conflict with Venezuela just to shift the focus away from the headlines.”

Seen as a strong contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028, Pritzker didn’t hold back his critique of fellow Democrats. He criticized the choice made by seven Democratic senators and one independent who aligned with Republicans on a vote to end the government shutdown, labeling it a strategic misstep that played into Trump’s agenda.

Pritzker stated, “From the outset, I’ve been firmly in favor of standing our ground. It’s frustrating to see Democrats conceding and essentially aligning with what the Trump administration desires.”

Despite some Democrats urging Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer to step down for not resisting more vigorously, Pritzker refrained from joining those calls. “I’m not convinced this particular issue should be the breaking point for his leadership,” he commented.

He was instead more critical of the group of Democratic senators who voted for the deal, which included Sen. Dick Durbin, his own state’s senior senator.

“We were winning,” said Pritzker, pointing to resounding Democratic wins in elections across the country last week. “I do not understand why people caved when we were on the verge of getting real change.”

Since Trump’s reelection, Pritzker — an heir to the Hyatt hotel fortune — has been among the president’s fiercest Democratic critics. On Wednesday, he described Trump as “a narcissist” and said he believed the president “has dementia.”

Pritzker’s comments about Trump’s use of the politics of distraction came as newly released documents reignited scrutiny of Trump’s relationship with Epstein. In a 2019 email to a journalist, Epstein wrote that Trump “knew about the girls,” but what he knew — and whether it pertained to the sex offender’s crimes — is unclear. The White House accused Democrats of selectively leaking the emails to smear the president.

But few governors have witnessed Trump’s use of force as directly as Pritzker, who has seen federal agents descend on Chicago and its suburbs in recent months as part of “ Operation Midway Blitz.” More than 3,300 people suspected of immigration violations have been arrested since September, with some raids involving helicopters, tear gas and nighttime operations.

“This is part of the militarization of our American cities that Donald Trump is engaging in,” Pritzker said. “And it’s dangerous. It shouldn’t happen, but he’s got a purpose behind it. And it’s to affect our elections in 2026.”

Pritzker said the large immigration crackdown seen in Chicago would soon expand to other states, saying that he had spoken recently to North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein after reports that the administration might send federal forces into Charlotte.

“I’m hoping that the pushback will finally lead them to ratchet down their efforts,” said Pritzker.