Former President Trump criticized Illinois Democratic governor J.B. Pritzker, highlighting the state’s population decline under his governance and attributing it to high taxes and mismanagement.

Trump’s statement on Truth Social emphasized Pritzker’s perceived failures in managing Illinois, linking them to increasing crime rates and residents leaving the state.

“Sloppy J.B. Pritzker, the Rotund Governor from the once great State of Illinois, who makes Chris Christie look like a male model, and whose family wanted him out of the business because he was so pathetic at helping them run it, has presided over the destruction and disintegration of Illinois at levels never seen before in any State. Crime is rampant and people are, sadly, fleeing Illinois. Unless a change is made at the Governor’s level, Illinois can never be Great Again,” Trump wrote online.

Pritzker’s proposed 2025 spending plan, including significant tax increases, has faced scrutiny for its potential impact on businesses and individuals, with criticisms directed at specific tax changes affecting retailers and income tax exemptions.

Pritzker would “effectively raise taxes by $186 million on retailers,” Illinois Policy Institute Director of Fiscal and Economic Research Bryce Hill said.

“Retailers now retain 1.75% of the sales taxes for collecting and sending them to the government, so long as they properly file and pay their applicable sales taxes by their due dates. Under Pritzker’s proposal, the value of this tax credit would be capped at $1,000 per month.”

The proposal includes “a hidden $93 million income tax hike on individuals. He will get that money by shortchanging the inflation adjustment to the state’s standard income tax exemption. … the state’s current standard exemption for tax year 2024 is set a $2,775 per income taxpayer and dependent. Pritzker wants to reduce this exemption to $2,550 per income taxpayer and dependent – a change that would only account for one years’ worth of inflation adjustments instead of the two taxpayers are due,” Hill said.