Vice President JD Vance told USA Today the Trump administration has no plans to maintain the National Guard forces in the long term to combat crime.
JD Vance says the DC National Guard will not be deployed forever
JD Vance reports that the presence of USA Today National Guard in the city is not indefinite.
- “We do not want to have national security guards indefinitely on the streets of our cities,” Vance said in an exclusive interview.
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump has not planned a long-term military occupation of American cities, Vice President JD Vance told USA Today in an exclusive interview, but Vance said the National Guard needed time to reduce crime.
“We don’t want citizen security guards to be placed indefinitely on the streets of cities. We just want these cities to be safer,” Vance said on August 27th.
Trump is signaling plans to deploy National Guard in additional cities starting in Chicago after launching crackdowns in the District of Columbia. 2,300 armed National Guard members are now in Washington, D.C. after Trump declared a public crime emergency in the country’s capital on August 11, despite data from Washington police showing a 26% drop from last year.
Vance said there are periods of time the National Guard stays in the city and periods that depend on successful reductions in crime.
“Based on the local crime rates, what’s going on with murder, what’s going on with armed robbers, what’s going on with carjacking, I think you clearly have to make that decision,” Vance said in a wide range of interviews covering his televised topics with Ukrainian President Volodimia Zelensky and with addiction groups working with the efforts of Taylor Swift Kelse Engagement.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pretzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson are both Democrats, pushing back Trump’s threats and sending the National Guard to Chicago.
Trump also mentioned Los Angeles in New York City, Los Angeles, Baltimore in Oakland and Oakland, California. Cities with Democratic mayors in the state led by a Democratic governor are potential federal targets.
VP says Trump can send troops to cities without consent
Vance said Trump likes to “work at concerts” with states and cities. One of the two executive orders was signed by Trump on August 11, and signed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegses to determine whether the National Guard is necessary in the community to “coordinate with the governor.”
But the vice president also said Trump has legal authority to deploy National Guard in cities, whether they want help or not.
“I think he can provide it without their requests,” Vance said. “But basically, the president – I think what he said is that he wants to work with these regions. We want to bring law and order back to the streets of America.”
In the District of Columbia, which holds a unique status as a federal enclave, Trump has taken additional steps to take over city police under the Federal Home Rules Act. However, the law requires a Congressional lawsuit to expand presidential authorities to command police stations for more than 30 days. Trump said he wanted such approval from Congress.
“The president’s view is that looking at how bad the crime issue is here, 30 days is probably not enough,” Vance said of the administration’s efforts in the district.
Twice this week, Trump suggested that some Americans may support the idea of ”dictators.” “A lot of people say we like dictators,” Trump said on August 25th.
In an interview with USA Today, Vance said the administration hopes to avoid criticism that it is a “dictatorial” takeover, as the future development of the National Guard will be “promoted by local governments.”
“We don’t want people to stand up before the press conference and criticize the president as a fascist, and even at civilians the National Guard of being part of an authoritarian coup.
Contributed by Cybele Mayes-Osterman
Reach the Francesca Chambers by @fran_chambers and Joey Garrison @joeygarrison.
