Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican, expressed criticism of President Trump’s move to deploy Texas National Guard troops to Illinois, saying it violated the principle of states’ rights. Stitt, the chair of the National Governors Association (NGA), spoke with The New York Times about the matter. “I was surprised that Governor Abbott sent troops from Texas to Illinois,” Stitt told the outlet, according to The Hill. “Abbott and I sued the Biden administration when the shoe was on the other foot and the Biden administration was trying to force us to vaccinate all of our soldiers and force masks across the country,” he continued. “As a federalist believer, one governor against another governor, I don’t think that’s the right way to approach this,” he added. Stitt is the first Republican governor to break with Trump on his deployment of National Guard troops across state lines. Gov. Kevin Stitt condemned President Donald Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops across state lines, the first Republican governor to speak out against the practice.https://t.co/p4gAfERGN7 pic.twitter.com/6w0QqlJyGT — Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) October 10, 2025 The Hill has more: Approximately 200 soldiers from the Texas National Guard and 300 soldiers from the Illinois National Guard were activated in the greater Chicago area by Wednesday night, according to an update from U.S. Northern Command. Stitt emphasized that he supports President Trump’s goal of ensuring “law and order” in Democratic-run cities, as well as the president’s effort to protect Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. But the governor said he worries about the precedent the deployment could set and how a future president from another party could take advantage of that tool. “We believe in the federalist system — that’s states’ rights,” Stitt said. “Oklahomans would lose their mind if Pritzker in Illinois sent troops down to Oklahoma during the Biden administration.” “The elite Texas National Guard are on the ground and ready to go. They are putting America first by ensuring that the federal government can safely enforce federal law,” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said earlier this week. The elite Texas National Guard are on the ground and ready to go. They are putting America first by ensuring that the federal government can safely enforce federal law. https://t.co/5bEoKDS13i — Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) October 7, 2025 The Trump administration said the deployments are necessary to protect Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from protestors. “I fully authorized the President to call up 400 members of the Texas National Guard to ensure safety for federal officials. You can either fully enforce protection for federal employees or get out of the way and let Texas Guard do it. No Guard can match the training, skill, and expertise of the Texas National Guard. They defend our country with pride,” Abbott said. “America must also know that Texas still has thousands of National Guard assisting with the Border security,” he added. I fully authorized the President to call up 400 members of the Texas National Guard to ensure safety for federal officials. You can either fully enforce protection for federal employees or get out of the way and let Texas Guard do it. No Guard can match the training, skill, and… https://t.co/7SUk9XlMBn — Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) October 6, 2025 POLITICO noted: Stitt’s comments mark the first public criticism of the move from a sitting Republican governor. Democratic leaders — including Pritzker, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek and California Gov. Gavin Newsom — have been sharply critical of the use of military troops in cities, with all three filing lawsuits seeking to curb the moves. Newsom and Pritzker have also threatened to leave the NGA if the organization did not speak up against the interstate National Guard deployments. In the interview, Stitt shrugged off those demands, citing the NGA’s status as a tax-exempt nonprofit.