Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) called President Donald Trump's controversial multi-million dollar Washington renovation projects "disgraceful" in a sit-down with CNN's Kaitlan Collins on Tuesday. Collins asked Pritzker if he would "reverse" the changes that Trump has made to the White House's Oval Office and East Wing — and perhaps do away with Trump's proposed arch — if the governor were to run for and win the presidency in 2028.
Pritzker Pledges to Restore White House Traditions
"Absolutely," Pritzker replied. "It's disgraceful what he has done — literally tearing down traditions of Washington, D.C., [and] of the White House. You know, the arch that he's building, all of those things. The reality is that we need to restore not only the traditions of Washington but most importantly, the values that belong in the Oval Office itself." Pritzker argued that "we need a new president — whoever that is" who "actually carries with them honesty, integrity and importantly, kindness and empathy into the job."
Pritzker Questions Trump's Mental Fitness
Pritzker then took aim at the 80-year-old Trump's mental condition, as there have been ongoing concerns about his cognitive health and fitness for office. "The man is continually suffering from dementia. I don't think he really understands what he's saying. The truth is that, I mean, this is a man who's threatened to jail the mayor of Chicago, the governor of Illinois," Pritzker said. Elsewhere in the interview, Collins read a statement from the White House that attacked Pritzker's mental faculties. The statement, Collins read, called Pritzker "a certifiable loser who has done a terrible job running his state. Everybody sees it clearly except for him. He must have dementia."
Pritzker Hedges Diagnosis, Cites Trump's Behavior
Pritzker, who hedged his earlier analysis by noting that he's "not a doctor," said of Trump: "He regularly threatens to go after people and indeed has used the Department of Justice to go after people. So ... I think he has these concepts in his head and he blurts them out without really thinking." After Collins pressed him about his diagnosis of Trump, Pritzker cited the difference in the president's responses to questions during his first term versus now. "I really think that there's something genuinely wrong with him," he said.
