President Donald Trump is strengthening his administration’s resolve to use military force as a tool to combat crime after two National Guard members were shot and killed within blocks of the White House.
The president is ordering an additional 500 troops to Washington, in addition to 2,200 other Guard members from across the country who are flocking to the nation’s capital.
President Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to U.S. cities has been a recurring theme for his administration, largely as a plan to fight local crime and quell fears about immigration crackdowns in Democratic-led municipalities, despite loud protests from state and local leaders.
U.S. District Judge Gia Cobb ruled on November 20 that the Trump administration illegally deployed the National Guard to Washington and blocked additional troops from enforcing the law in the nation’s capital without the mayor’s approval.
The Biden-appointed judge said in his order that the deployment represents a “substantial risk.” Cobb added: “This would result in a dangerous or deadly encounter that could have a devastating impact on public safety.”
Cobb temporarily put the ruling on hold to give the Trump administration a chance to appeal.
President Trump had deployed the National Guard to other major cities, including Los Angeles, Chicago and Portland, fearing alarm from Democrats. But as president, he has unique authority over Washington, which is not vested in any state.
But the District of Columbia’s attorney general accused the government of illegally usurping control of the city’s law enforcement and violating a law that prohibits the military from conducting domestic police operations.
Here is President Trump’s schedule for deploying security forces to the nation’s capital:
