Over the last couple of weeks, President Trump deployed federal troops to protect the city of D.C. He greeted the National Guard and other soldiers on Thursday, telling them thank you for what he characterized as a “successful early start to his administration’s efforts to reduce crime in Washington D.C,” according to NBC.
Traditionally, the National Guard would only be enlisted by the federal government in events of domestic crisis or national emergencies. These would include the COVID-19 pandemic, according to NBC. Therefore, there are some questions surrounding why this extra measure needs to be taken, especially considering the crime rate in D.C is down 26% in comparison to August of 2024. This begs the question of why this sudden push for metropolitan protection is such a priority for the president.
The president also said that this is an action he wants to project into other cities around the country, as he sees value in sending federal action into metropolitan cities like Chicago, according to ABC.
Specific to Chicago, state and city officials claim there was no warning about this next step in sending reinforcements to Chicago, straining relations between executives and states.
Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson said, “There’s been no communication from the White House, but multiple reports say the Trump administration has been planning for National Guard troops in Chicago for weeks.”
Trump spoke out to reporters from the Oval Office on Monday morning, directly responding to Johnson’s statement and concern, stating that Chicago is a “disaster,” even calling Johnson “incompetent” and “corrupt,” and that this extra step is needed for a safer union. He also, after this statement to the press, signed an executive order that creates National Guard units focused on “public order issues.”
This would mean that the military would be specifically trained and “equipped to deal with public order issues,” according to CNN. This would mean looking to a future where the president wants to expand the US military’s role in domestic law enforcement across the country. While troops are specially trained to aid state issues if needed, this is only done via the request of the state’s governor, according to CNN.
In spite of this, state reps continue to speak out, claiming that this extra measure of safety, as well as clashes between the President and city officials, are hurting citizens more, bringing additional confusion and unnecessary fear.
“Brave men and women who signed up to serve our country did not sign up to occupy American cities,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson.
