Part 6/11:
A key point of contention involves whether the Texas National Guard is being staged or possibly deployed in Illinois. The governor explained that the process for federalizing National Guard units involves the National Guard Bureau in Washington, D.C., and is not initiated directly by the governor. Although there are credible reports suggesting Texas may be involved, the governor refrained from confirming this, citing confidentiality and security reasons.
He criticized Texas Governor Greg Abbott, describing him as untrustworthy toward Illinois and suggesting that any denial of such staging should be viewed skeptically. The governor pointed out that, unlike state-level decisions, federal authorization is required for national deployment, which typically bypasses the governor's direct control.