Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker told a New Hampshire crowd, ‘It’s time to fight everywhere and all at once’

Gov. J.B. Pritzker, D-Ill., reignited speculation about his 2028 presidential ambitions this weekend, but his call for “mass protests” dominated headlines as Republicans accused him of “inciting violence.”

Speaking at the New Hampshire Democratic Party’s annual fundraising gala this weekend, Pritzker became the first potential Democratic candidate to visit New Hampshire, or any early primary state, since Democrats’ big November losses.

“Never before in my life have I called for mass protests, for mobilization, for disruption. But I am now. These Republicans cannot know a moment of peace. They have to understand that we will fight their cruelty with every megaphone and microphone that we have. We must castigate them on the soapbox and then punish them at the ballot box,” Prtizker said, triggering outrage among President Donald Trump’s supporters.

“His comments, if nothing else, could be construed as inciting violence,” Stephen Miller, Trump’s deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security advisor, told reporters outside the White House on Monday.

Pritzker told the first-in-the-nation primary crowd this weekend, “It’s time to fight everywhere and all at once,” in a comment that seemed to refer to political action, like protesting, voting and challenging the Trump administration in the courts. Pritzker later clarified to reporters he was referring to political action, but Trump’s base wasn’t so convinced.