Over 2,000 National Guard troops are still patrolling the District of Columbia even after President Trump’s 30-day takeover of Washington, D.C.’s police force ends. Since August 11, several states, in addition to Washington, DC’s National Guard, have been stationed on the streets of the city as part of Trump’s anti-crime crackdown. Furthermore, the Department of Justice reported that 2,310 arrests have been made and 225 illegal firearms seized from August 11 to September 10. When asked about her opinion on the presence of the National Guard in Washington, D.C., Sophomore Sophia Meyer said, “I think it’s terrible. This is the last thing we should be focused on.”
Trump’s administration has indicated potential National Guard deployment in other Democrat-led cities, raising concerns about federal overreach and local governance. In response, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said in a press conference, “Mr. President, do not come to Chicago. You are neither wanted here nor needed here.” Protests against Trump’s immigration policy and the potential of National Guard deployment have sprung up around the city.
Recently, though, Trump has seemingly backed off from deploying troops in Chicago. On September 10 he spoke to reporters saying “We’re going to be announcing another city that we’re going to very shortly, working it out with the governor of a certain state who would love us to be there, and the mayor of a certain city in the same state that would love us to be there.” Attorney general Pam Bondi also mentioned, “Chicago should be begging Donald Trump for help to keep Chicago safe — yet they aren’t. So we’re going to a city that wants us there.” When asked if she thinks the National Guard should go to other cities, Junior Hannah Woolf said, “I understand why it [The National Guard] would be in D.C. because it’s where you would want the most protection. But I would not like to see that, especially here.” Whether Trump plans to deploy the National Guard to another city remains to be seen, but according to National Guard officials, troops will remain deployed in Washington, D.C. until November 30.
