Pritzker: Vance is Trump’s ‘chief bootlicker’

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) went after Vice President Vance on Tuesday, calling him President Trump’s “chief bootlicker.”

“We’re going to make sure that the public understands that; we’re going to remind people of what the policies have been that JD Vance has stood with Donald Trump on,” Pritzker told MS NOW’s Jen Psaki on “The Briefing,” discussing his visit to Texas on Wednesday , a move coinciding with a GOP midterm convention in the same state.

“We’re not going to let JD Vance try to run away and say, oh, he’s a rational Republican, while Donald Trump is, of course, suffering from dementia and taking us off the deep end,” he added.

Vance is set to give a keynote address Thursday, the second day of the Dallas convention.

Pritzker’s swipe at Vance is notable, especially given the fact that both Midwesterners have been commonly discussed as possible 2028 presidential contenders.

The Illinois governor’s jab at the vice president also comes amid a tough political climate for Vance, Trump and the GOP. The Republicans are dealing with issues like the unpopular war with Iran, which just stretched past the six-month mark, Trump’s slumping approval numbers and Democrats recently leading on the generic congressional ballot.

Last year, Pritzker did not rule out a run for president in 2028 when asked multiple times about his political future.

“I don’t know what the future holds,” Pritzker said at the time. “What I can tell you is I’m totally dedicated to upholding the rights of people in the state of Illinois and making sure that we’re protecting them, especially from a tyrant who’s taken over the White House.”

The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.