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National Guard units patrolling Washington DC have begun carrying firearms including handguns and rifles, marking a significant escalation in Donald Trump's military deployment of the capital. The armed troops were first spotted on Sunday outside Union Station, with defense officials confirming that only units on specific law enforcement missions would be equipped with weapons.
The military deployment operates under strict rules of engagement, with force authorised "only as a last resort and solely in response to an imminent threat of death or serious bodily harm". Thousands of National Guard and federal law enforcement officers now patrol the district's streets, drawing sporadic protests from local residents throughout the weekend.
Expansion plans target Democratic cities
Trump is considering expanding the armed deployments to other Democratic-led cities, with Chicago appearing to be his next target. The Pentagon has reportedly spent weeks preparing operational plans for Chicago that could include both National Guard troops and potentially active-duty forces.
"I think Chicago will be our next," Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday, adding, "And then we'll help with New York." The president has repeatedly described major cities run by Democratic leaders with Black mayors as dangerous and requiring federal intervention.
Strong Democratic resistance emerges
Maryland Governor Wes Moore (Democrat) has invited Trump to visit Baltimore to discuss public safety, but the president responded by threatening to "send in the 'troops'" instead. Moore said Trump was "spouting off a bunch of lies about public safety in Maryland" and living in "blissful ignorance" about improving crime rates.
According to city data, Baltimore's violent crime has fallen significantly, with homicides down 24% last year and overall violent crime declining nearly 8% between 2023 and 2024. Washington DC's violent crime is currently at its lowest levels in more than 30 years.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (Democrat) said his city would sue to block any military deployment, declaring: "We're not going to surrender our humanity to this tyrant." Illinois Governor JB Pritzker (Democrat) accused Trump of attempting to "manufacture a crisis" and "abuse his power".
Civil rights concerns raised
The Rev Al Sharpton, speaking at Howard University in Washington, characterised the Guard's presence as racially motivated rather than crime-focused. "This is laced with bigotry and racism," the civil rights activist told reporters, noting that "not one white mayor has been designated" for military intervention.
Protests erupted across Washington over the weekend, with videos of arrests and detentions circulating on social media. Some residents engaged in pot-banging demonstrations and community chants of "get out of our neighborhood" in response to the military presence.
Sources used: "The Guardian", "The i", "The Independent" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
