During a panel discussion with Bill O’Reilly, Border Czar Tom “The Hammer” Homan had some choice words for Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker — and he didn’t pull any punches. Pritzker has been throwing around his massive weight to block federal efforts to detain and deport illegal immigrants in Illinois, using every trick in the book to tie up enforcement in red tape.
But Homan, true to form, cut right through the spin and laid out a very plausible explanation:
"Why do you think Governor Pritzker is so adamant against you and ICE?"@RealTomHoman: "Because they hate Trump more than they love the residents of Chicago." pic.twitter.com/k0leKNaTXr
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) October 16, 2025
Here are his full comments:
Tom Homan: President Trump’s policies, whether people want to face it or not, are saving lives by the thousands. Under Joe Biden, a record number of aliens died making that journey. A record number of Americans died from fentanyl coming across that border. This administration is not only going to enforce the law, in making our streets safe again, they’re saving thousands of lives.
Bill O’Reilly: Why do you think Governor Pritzker is so adamant against you and ICE? Why?
Tom Homan: Because they hate Trump more than they love the residents of Chicago.
Bill O’Reilly: Is it that simple, though?
Tom Homan: You tell me. I don’t know. I think any elected mayor, any elected governor, any elected city councilperson, their responsibility is the safety of their communities.
This is the simple truth: the core purpose of government — any government, at every level — is to protect the liberty and property of its citizens. Everything else is secondary.
In this, the government of Chicago has failed so completely it’s almost hard to keep track. Their sanctuary city policies have turned Chicago into a magnet for illegal immigrants, overwhelming neighborhoods, driving up housing costs, and draining essential city services.
And even if you set aside the crimes committed by some of these illegal aliens — which we shouldn’t — the strain on the city’s infrastructure and taxpayers is undeniable.
Let’s be clear about one thing: if Kamala Harris were in the White House doing the exact same thing President Trump is doing — closing the border, cracking down on illegal immigration, and repatriating those here illegally — the very same Democrats screaming now would be praising her as a bold, compassionate leader “doing what’s best for America.”
That’s the Other Foot Principle at work. Just imagine if the shoe were on the other foot — if it were a Democrat enforcing these policies instead of a Republican. Chicago’s leaders, Mayor Brandon Johnson, and Governor J.B. Pritzker would be cheering from the rooftops. The hypocrisy couldn’t be more transparent.
“The Hammer” is absolutely right in his assessment. Governor Pritzker, Mayor Brandon Johnson, and a whole parade of lower-level officials — and yes, let’s not forget the activist judges — are all suffering from a raging case of Level 5 Trump Derangement Syndrome. Their hatred for Trump has become so all-consuming that they’ll oppose anything he does, even when it clearly benefits their own citizens.
And who pays the price for their obsession? Not the politicians, not the judges — but the people of Illinois. Families are footing the bill for their leaders’ political tantrums, while chaos spreads and communities crumble under the weight of policies rooted not in logic or compassion, but in pure, unfiltered spite.
