August 26th 2025.
After Donald Trump made the decision to increase military presence in Washington, D.C., it was announced that National Guard troops patrolling the capital would now be carrying weapons. A Defense Department official, who wished to remain anonymous, confirmed that certain units on specific missions would be armed with firearms such as handguns and rifles. The official also made it clear that all armed units had undergone thorough training and were following strict rules of engagement set by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
It was noted that only certain troops would be carrying firearms, while those assigned to transportation or administrative duties would most likely remain unarmed. However, just one day after speaking with the anonymous defense official, an Associated Press photographer spotted South Carolina National Guard members outside Union Station with holstered handguns. When asked about this, a spokesperson for the task force stated that National Guard members responsible for safety and security would be armed, while those focusing on tasks like community restoration would most likely not be.
The decision for increased military presence came after a statement from the joint task force overseeing policing in the capital, stating that units began carrying service weapons on August 25th. The task force emphasized that force should only be used as a last resort and in response to a serious threat, and reassured residents of their commitment to keeping them safe. Since Trump's deployment of U.S. troops to the capital, thousands of National Guard members and federal officers have been patrolling the streets. This move has overridden the authority of state and local law enforcement and has sparked discussions about the possibility of expanding military presence to other Democratic-led cities such as Baltimore, Chicago, and New York.
During a press conference in the Oval Office on August 22nd, Trump stated, "I think Chicago will be our next, and then we'll help with New York." However, critics are calling attention to the fact that these cities all have Black mayors and majority-minority populations, leading them to believe that Trump is targeting these areas. Reverend Al Sharpton addressed this issue while speaking at Howard University, stating, "This is about profiling us. It's laced with bigotry and racism." He later added that not a single white mayor had been designated for this increased military presence, and went on to call it a civil rights and race issue, as well as an issue of D.C. statehood.
A White House official clarified that although National Guard troops in D.C. are armed, they are not responsible for making arrests. Their main focus is to protect federal property and support law enforcement during arrests. So far, over 2,200 National Guard soldiers and airmen, mostly from out of state, have been deployed to D.C. as part of Trump's coordinated effort to address crime and homelessness in the capital. This has resulted in a roughly 27% decrease in violent crime compared to the previous year.
In related news, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced plans to bring in National Guard troops to search subway commuters' bags. This decision has sparked further discussions about the use of the military in civilian settings and raised concerns about potential violations of civil rights.
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