Trump takes shot at Illinois governor over Asian carp plan
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Asian carp caught during an annual fishing tournament in Bath, Illinois, in Aug. 2024. Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images
The White House is conceding that a major project it has undertaken to keep an invasive fish out of the Great Lakes has stalled — and is pointing its finger squarely at an archenemy: Gov. JB Pritzker.
Why it matters: The flare-up adds another layer of tension between President Trump and Pritzker as the governor welcomed Texas Democrats who fled the state to try to stop a Trump-backed redistricting push to create more GOP seats in Congress.
The backstory: Trump in May signed a memorandum offering his support to Michigan and Illinois for a $1 billion effort aimed at preventing invasive Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes.
- Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is an outspoken proponent of the project and has remained in close contact with Trump about it.
Yes, but: White House officials say they haven't received the same cooperation from Pritzker or his team. They say their calls to Pritzker haven't been returned.
What they're saying: A senior White House official tells Axios the project has "stalled" since Trump's May 9 memorandum.
- "President Trump stands ready to get this project back on track, but the governor of Illinois is going to have to show some effort to get things moving again," said an administration source working closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the project, which is overseeing construction.
The other side: Pritzker spokesperson Matt Hill vehemently denied that the governor has been MIA on the subject.
- Hill noted that Pritzker on July 24 hosted officials from Michigan and the Army Corps of Engineers at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam in Joliet to discuss the project. Hill said attendees "shared positive updates on the progress we are making to protect the Great Lakes."
- "If Trump wants to try lying to play political blame games he can, but Illinois will focus on delivering results," Hill said. "If the White House needs an update on the project, we welcome their outreach but have not received any to date."
The intrigue: The Illinois Department of Natural Resources in 2022 rebranded Asian carp as copi, selling it as a "freshwater, top-feeding, wild-caught fish that is mild with a clean, light taste," as a way to get more of the fish out of the Great Lakes.
- A Chicago chef is cooking up copi dishes next week at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to include more of the statement from Pritzker spokesperson Matt Hill.