President Trump deploys 500 more National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., following shootings
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced he would send 500 more troops to Washington, D.C.
Two West Virginia National Guard soldiers were hospitalized in critical condition after being shot in what investigators said was a “targeted” ambush near the White House in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 26, the day before Thanksgiving. The assault is being investigated as a possible act of terrorism.
President Donald Trump has made deploying the National Guard nationwide a recurring theme of his administration over the past six months. The Republican president said such efforts are needed to combat urban crime in “troubled” U.S. cities led by Democrats, despite widespread opposition from state and local leaders.
On October 28, during a trip to Asia, President Trump said, “We are sending in the National Guard, but if we need more than the National Guard, we will send in more than the National Guard, because we can have safe cities.” “We’re not going to kill people in our city. Whether people like it or not, that’s what we’re doing.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced later in the day that the government would deploy an additional 500 National Guard troops to the capital in response to the attack.
On August 11, President Trump declared a “crime emergency” in Washington and sent thousands of National Guard troops to the city “to save our nation’s capital from crime, blood, mayhem, filth, and worse.”
“We’re going to get our capital back,” he said.
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser called the move “disturbing and unprecedented,” noting that violent crime has been on the decline in the city since 2023.
In September, he and Hegseth dined with Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio at Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab as a way to show how safe the city had become.
Since then, some members of the National Guard have been seen carrying assault rifles patrolling monuments and subway stations, but they have often been limited to picking up trash and cleaning graffiti.
President Trump claimed on November 25 that there had been no murders in the city in six months, despite data showing there have been more than 60 murders in the city since May 25, according to ABC News.
President Trump has also threatened to deploy the National Guard to cities including New York, Baltimore, New Orleans, St. Louis and Charlotte, North Carolina, but such efforts have drawn backlash and been repeatedly blocked in court.
We will introduce how the deployment of National Guard troops is being carried out across the country.
Los Angeles, California
In June, President Trump ordered the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles, where violent protests against the president’s increased crackdown on illegal immigration erupted, with protesters throwing concrete at helmeted and riot-suited police officers.
President Trump said federal intervention was needed, citing inaction by Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. Mr. Newsom disputed this on social media, citing the preparedness of local police and saying the “deliberately inflammatory” military deployment “will only heighten tensions.”
“We are working closely with the city and county and there are no unmet needs at this time,” Newsom said. “This is a misguided mission and will undermine public trust.”
memphis tennessee
On September 15, the president announced he would send troops to Memphis, a move welcomed by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee (Republican), over the objections of Mayor Paul Young.
“We’re going to make Memphis safe again,” President Trump said.
Memphis, Tennessee’s second-largest city, had the highest rate of homicides and other violent crimes among large U.S. cities in 2024, a USA TODAY analysis of FBI data found.
On November 17, a Tennessee judge temporarily blocked the deployment, agreeing with state and local lawmakers that the use of military for law enforcement violates the state constitution. Presiding Judge Patricia Moskal said the city’s crime rate was not a “grave emergency” or “disaster” that would warrant military intervention by the governor.
portland oregon
In late September, President Trump said on social media that he would send the National Guard to Portland, a “war-torn” and “burnt-down” liberal stronghold.
The move was immediately challenged in court by the city and the state of Oregon.
In early October, after President Trump sent 200 members of the California National Guard to the state, U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut issued a temporary restraining order blocking the federalization and deployment of 100 members of the Oregon National Guard, as well as the deployment of National Guard troops from other states.
On November 7, Mr. Immergut ruled that the National Guard could not be sent to Portland and that the president overstepped his authority by attempting to do so.
“The evidence shows that these deployments were opposed by Oregon’s governor, unrequested by federal officials responsible for securing ICE buildings, and exceeded the president’s authority,” Immergut said.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek called on California National Guard troops to return home in a statement.
“Oregon does not want or need military intervention, and President Trump’s attempt to federalize the Guard is a gross abuse of power,” she said.
Chicago, Illinois
In October, President Trump sent 300 Illinois National Guard troops to Chicago in what he called “Operation Midway Blitz” to support immigration enforcement agents in the country who were facing fierce opposition from demonstrators.
“It is completely outrageous and un-American to ask our governor to send troops within our state’s borders against our will,” said Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker.
Pritzker called the deployment a “manufactured performance,” noting that the Illinois State Police works with local authorities to coordinate law enforcement operations at ICE facilities.
“Let’s be clear: We don’t need to have troops on the ground in Illinois,” he said.
Clashes broke out after the deployment, with federal agents using pepper balls and tear gas to attack journalists, pastors and Chicago police officers, according to reports and lawsuits.
A federal judge in Chicago temporarily blocked the deployment, but President Trump asked the Supreme Court to lift the restrictions. A judge can rule on the temporary block at any time.
