Trump Deploys 800 National Guard Troops to Washington DC

The Pentagon confirmed on Thursday that all 800 National Guard personnel ordered by US President Donald Trump have been deployed to Washington DC to support law enforcement operations.

The move is part of what Trump describes as a crime-fighting initiative in the capital, despite official data showing a decline in violent crime in the city.

This deployment mirrors a previous operation in Los Angeles in June, when protests erupted.

Pentagon spokesperson Kingsley Wilson stated that all Army and Air National Guard members assigned to the Joint Task Force DC are now active in the nation’s capital. They will work alongside the Metropolitan Police Department and federal law enforcement partners to secure landmarks, conduct patrols, protect federal facilities, and ensure community safety.

Wilson emphasized that the troops will remain in place until law and order is restored, as determined by the President.

Trump announced the deployment earlier in the week, asserting federal control over the city’s police administration and pledging to restore stability to the capital.

Republican politicians have argued that Washington DC, governed locally by Democrats, has faced rising crime, homelessness, and financial mismanagement. However, police statistics show a marked drop in violent crime between 2023 and 2024, in contrast to the post-pandemic surge in previous years.