Post by : Meena Ariff

The US National Guard troops patrolling Washington, DC, will begin carrying weapons starting the night of August 24, officials said, as part of what President Donald Trump described as his “crime crackdown.” The move comes after weeks of unarmed National Guard presence in the city following Trump’s declaration of a crime emergency.

Troop Deployment in DC

Officials confirmed that the number of armed troops will vary, but they will carry either M17 pistols or M4 rifles. The National Guard’s Joint Task Force-DC stated that the personnel will use force only as a last resort and solely in response to imminent threats of death or serious bodily harm.

Hundreds of National Guard troops have been on the streets of Washington for the past two weeks after the president declared a crime emergency. Defence authorities authorized the troops to carry weapons to strengthen the response to any potential threats.

President Trump has repeatedly described Washington as being in the grip of a crime wave. However, official crime data shows that the city has actually seen a decline in criminal activity in recent years. Trump has credited the deployment of troops and federal law enforcement personnel for the crime reduction, claiming that the city is now largely safe.

Trump’s Plans to Expand to Other Cities

In addition to DC, President Trump has hinted at sending troops to Chicago and Baltimore, both of which are governed by Democrats. On August 24, he suggested that a National Guard deployment could occur in Baltimore if local authorities needed help addressing crime.

However, Democratic leaders have pushed back against the president’s statements. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries stated that Trump does not have the authority to deploy troops to Chicago. Officials confirmed that the Pentagon has conducted preliminary planning on what a deployment could look like, but no formal orders have been issued.

Jeffries criticized the potential deployments, calling them an attempt to manufacture a crisis. He noted that crime, including murders, has declined in Chicago over the past year. The governor of Illinois, J.B. Pritzker, also said no emergency would justify a National Guard deployment in the city.

In Baltimore, police data shows that gun violence has dropped compared with the previous year, with the city reporting 84 homicides so far in 2025—the fewest in over 50 years. Despite this, Trump suggested on social media that he could send troops to help reduce crime further if needed.

Legal and Political Considerations

The president has more authority over DC than over other US cities. Under Title 10 of the US Code, a federal law, the president can deploy National Guard units to repel invasions, suppress rebellions, or ensure the execution of federal law. Trump cited Section 12406 of this law when deploying National Guard units to California earlier in 2025.

In the case of Chicago, which is a sanctuary city, Trump may argue that local laws limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities justify a National Guard presence. However, legal experts suggest that such a deployment would almost certainly face court challenges. Sending troops from Republican-led states into Democratic-controlled cities is expected to trigger political and legal disputes.

Reactions from Officials

Some Republican governors have already sent National Guard troops to DC at Trump’s request. Meanwhile, Democratic officials in Chicago and Baltimore have strongly opposed any potential troop deployments, arguing that the cities are not facing emergencies that warrant military involvement.

Trump’s approach has raised concerns about the balance of federal authority, the use of military force in civilian areas, and the political motivations behind such moves. While the National Guard can be a useful tool in emergencies, its deployment in peacetime cities like Chicago and Baltimore is highly unusual and controversial.

As the situation develops, the National Guard will continue to patrol the streets of Washington with weapons, while Trump explores the possibility of expanding similar measures to other cities. Both legal experts and political leaders are closely watching how far the president can push his authority in using the military for domestic law enforcement purposes.