Latest news with #troopdeployment
Fox News
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Fox News
National Guard troops from six head states head to DC to help tackle crime
Just more than one week after President Donald Trump unveiled plans to deploy troops from the D.C. National Guard and to federalize the Metropolitan Police Department to tackle crime in Washington, six states have pledged to send in their own National Guard troops to pitch in with the effort. Now, National Guard troops from Ohio, West Virginia, South Carolina, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee are joining in on the Trump administration's crackdown in Washington. Altogether, more than 2,000 National Guard troops are currently slated to participate in the Trump administration's effort to address crime in the nation's capital, and roughly 1,300 already have arrived in Washington. As of Tuesday, approximately 500 West Virginia National Guard soldiers are in Washington where they are being briefed on their mission, a U.S. Army official told Fox News. Once training concludes, they are slated to join the D.C. National Guard in "supporting the mission as it currently exists," the official said. On Monday, governors from Mississippi, Tennessee and Louisiana announced they would also dispatch National Guard troops from their respective states. Mississippi pledged 200 troops, Tennessee said it would send 160 troops, and Louisiana said it would deploy 135 troops. Additionally, South Carolina said it would dispatch 200 troops, and Ohio said it plans to deploy 150 to support Trump's mission. The states said that they were responding to requests from the Department of the Army to assist the D.C. National Guard. "We have been asked by the Secretary of the Army to send 150 military police from the Ohio National Guard to support the District of Columbia National Guard," Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, said in a Saturday statement. "These Ohio National Guard members will carry out presence patrols and serve as added security. None of these military police members are currently serving as law enforcement officers in the state of Ohio." The White House said that the National Guard troops will protect federal assets and provide a "safe environment" for law enforcement officials, and will "provide a visible presence to deter crime." "President Trump appreciates and welcomes additional assistance from local and state officials that want to join the operation to protect our cherished capital from dangerous criminals," a White House official said in a statement to Fox News Digital Tuesday. "As part of President Trump's ongoing effort to make DC safe and beautiful, additional National Guard troops may be called in to Washington DC — the National Guard's role has not changed." The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital on why National Guard troops from other states are joining the D.C. National Guard. Trump initially floated federalizing Washington's Metropolitan Police Department and sending National Guard troops to confront crime in Washington Aug. 6, following the assault of a former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffer. Days later, he announced that he would activate approximately 800 National Guard troops, and would take over the Metropolitan Police Department to address crime in Washington. "I'm deploying the National Guard to help reestablish law, order and public safety in Washington, D.C.," Trump told reporters at an Aug. 11 press conference. "And they're going to be allowed to do their job properly." While a temporary federal takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department is authorized for emergency situations, Washington officials filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's move Friday. "By illegally declaring a takeover of MPD, the Administration is abusing its temporary, limited authority under the law," Washington Attorney General Brian Schwalb wrote in a Friday X post. "This is the gravest threat to Home Rule DC has ever faced, and we are fighting to stop it." Meanwhile, Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser suggested that the Trump administration wasn't interested in deploying troops to fight crime in the city, but rather, advance the Trump administration's mass deportation agenda. "I think it makes the point that this is not about D.C. crime," Bowser said Sunday. "The focus should be on violent crime. ... Nobody is against focusing on driving down any level of violence. And so if this is really about immigration enforcement, the administration should make that plain."
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump adds firepower to National Guard presence in DC
The number of National Guard troops patrolling Washington, D.C., will more than double in the coming days after Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina and West Virginia in the past several days committed troops to President Trump's federal takeover of the city. Coupled with indications that the guard members may soon be carrying weapons — a reversal of their initial orders — the new deployments mark a major escalation of Trump's efforts to take over law enforcement in Washington. The roughly 800 D.C. National Guard troops already deployed in the capital will be joined by about 200 personnel from Mississippi, between 300 and 400 from West Virginia, 150 from Ohio and 200 from South Carolina, beefing up a presence that has largely stood idle around typically low-crime, tourist-heavy areas in the city. 'Crime is out of control there, and it's clear something must be done to combat it,' Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said in a statement Monday, becoming the latest Republican governor to answer to a Trump administration request to send guard members to Washington. West Virginia, Ohio and South Carolina, meanwhile, pledged their state troops over the weekend, bolstering Trump's federal crackdown on crime and homelessness in the Democratic-led city. Still, some GOP governors are keeping their troops home, including Vermont Gov. Phil Scott (R), who 'politely declined' Trump's request to deploy Vermont National Guard soldiers. 'While public safety is a legitimate concern in cities across the country and certainly in the nation's capital, in the absence of an immediate emergency or disaster that local and regional first responders are unable to handle, the governor just does not support utilizing the guard for this purpose, and does not view the enforcement of domestic law as a proper use of the National Guard,' Scott's chief of staff, Jason Gibbs, said in a statement Friday, as reported by Vermont Public. Gibbs said Scott might have sent a few dozen guard members if it was D.C. officials who were seeking federal assistance with an emergency situation instead. 'But in this case, because it is being hyperpoliticized, the governor doesn't feel like — and I believe the vast majority of Vermonters don't feel like — it would be an acceptable and appropriate use of the National Guard,' Gibbs said. Trump launched the federal takeover of D.C. via an executive order that declared a 'crime emergency' in the city, grabbing control of the city's police department and sending federal agents — including some from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, FBI and Secret Service — to the streets despite a sharp drop in crime since 2023. Critics say the effort is merely a photo op and a gross militarization of Washington, with D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) pushing back on Trump's characterization of the city Monday. 'We don't have any authority over the D.C. Guard or any other guards, but I think it makes the point that this is not about D.C. crime,' Bowser said of the administration and states deploying National Guard troops to the capital. 'The focus should be on violent crime,' she added. 'Nobody is against focusing on driving down any level of violence. And so if this is really about immigration enforcement, the administration should make that plain.' So far, the guard members in Washington have assisted law enforcement with crowd control and patrolling typically low-crime areas such as landmarks, including the National Mall, Lincoln Memorial and Union Station. It is unclear why additional troops have been requested by Trump, as the National Guard's role has been limited and many have been seen around the city standing idly next to their vehicles. But even with their seemingly uneventful patrols, guard members may soon be armed while out and about. Initial deployment orders stipulated that the troops would wear body armor but they would not be armed or even have their weapons in their vehicles, according to an Army statement released Thursday. Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson also told reporters Thursday that the guard members will not be conducting law enforcement activities while in D.C., but they could temporarily detain someone until law enforcement could make an arrest. The White House said in a statement Saturday, however, that the National Guard troops 'may be armed, consistent with their mission and training, to protect federal assets, provide a safe environment for law enforcement officers to make arrests, and deter violent crime with a visible law enforcement presence.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CNN
14 hours ago
- Politics
- CNN
National Guard troops from GOP-led states begin arriving in DC as part of Trump's crime crackdown
West Virginia National Guard troops have begun to arrive in Washington, DC, to assist with President Donald Trump's crime crackdown in the nation's capital, a defense official told CNN on Tuesday. The troops could begin assisting the DC National Guard operationally as soon as Wednesday after they have completed their in-processing, the defense official added. Their arrival comes after the Republican governors of six states — West Virginia, South Carolina, Ohio, Mississippi, Louisiana and Tennessee — announced they will send guard members to Washington, DC. The deployment of other states' troops marks an escalation of Trump's efforts to amass forces in the capital. The president previously announced that he was deploying DC National Guard troops to the city, surging federal agents into the streets, and federalizing DC's police force. The president has repeatedly complained about rising crime in DC, but overall crime numbers are lower this year than in 2024. The defense official said Tuesday that while there are roughly 2,400 personnel in the DC National Guard, assistance from other states was needed because of how many troops are either undergoing training elsewhere or are on leave. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said Monday he approved about 135 National Guard troops to DC, while Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves announced he would deploy approximately 200 members. Tennessee will send roughly 160 guard members to the city this week following a request from the Trump administration, Gov. Bill Lee's press secretary said in a Tuesday statement to CNN. Over the weekend, West Virginia's governor said his state was sending 300 to 400 National Guard troops to the nation's capital. South Carolina authorized the deployment of 200 troops, and Ohio said it will send 150. When asked on Monday how she feels about the additional states' troops, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser said, 'We don't have any authority over the DC Guard or any other guards.' The president has power over the DC National Guard. 'But I think it kind of makes the point that this is not about DC crime,' the Democratic mayor said. The defense official said the National Guard is operating at 10 Metrorail stations in the city. They are not carrying firearms and have not been requested to do so, the official added. As of Monday morning, 896 DC soldiers and airmen were mobilized on the mission. Asked whether they will deploy to high-crime areas of the capital, the defense official said, 'That's not the request' and that it would be more the focus of law enforcement, not the National Guard. Meanwhile, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the federal law enforcement operation is 'working,' highlighting 52 arrests Tuesday night, a similar figure to the number of average adult arrests per day in Washington, DC, in 2024. Leavitt added that 'a significant number of the arrests have been in high-crime areas of DC.' As Trump's crackdown on crime escalates, at least one Republican governor has refused to send National Guard troops from his state to the nation's capital. Vermont Gov. Phil Scott 'declined to consider a request to deploy the Vermont National Guard for law enforcement activities in Washington, D.C.,' his office said in a statement. 'While Public safety is a legitimate concern in cities across the country, in the absence of an immediate disaster and unless local and regional first responders are unable to handle such an emergency, the Governor is opposed to utilizing the National Guard for this purpose and does not view the enforcement of domestic law as proper use of the National Guard,' the statement said. Meanwhile, the chair of the Democratic Governors Association, Gov. Laura Kelly of Kansas, criticized the GOP governors who sent troops, saying in a statement, 'I implore my colleagues from Ohio, West Virginia, South Carolina, Mississippi and every other state to reject the temptation to use their soldiers to reinforce a dangerous, politically motivated agenda.' CNN's Shania Shelton and Jenna Monnin contributed to this report.
CNN
14 hours ago
- Politics
- CNN
National Guard troops from GOP-led states begin arriving in DC as part of Trump's crime crackdown
West Virginia National Guard troops have begun to arrive in Washington, DC, to assist with President Donald Trump's crime crackdown in the nation's capital, a defense official told CNN on Tuesday. The troops could begin assisting the DC National Guard operationally as soon as Wednesday after they have completed their in-processing, the defense official added. Their arrival comes after the Republican governors of six states — West Virginia, South Carolina, Ohio, Mississippi, Louisiana and Tennessee — announced they will send guard members to Washington, DC. The deployment of other states' troops marks an escalation of Trump's efforts to amass forces in the capital. The president previously announced that he was deploying DC National Guard troops to the city, surging federal agents into the streets, and federalizing DC's police force. The president has repeatedly complained about rising crime in DC, but overall crime numbers are lower this year than in 2024. The defense official said Tuesday that while there are roughly 2,400 personnel in the DC National Guard, assistance from other states was needed because of how many troops are either undergoing training elsewhere or are on leave. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said Monday he approved about 135 National Guard troops to DC, while Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves announced he would deploy approximately 200 members. Tennessee will send roughly 160 guard members to the city this week following a request from the Trump administration, Gov. Bill Lee's press secretary said in a Tuesday statement to CNN. Over the weekend, West Virginia's governor said his state was sending 300 to 400 National Guard troops to the nation's capital. South Carolina authorized the deployment of 200 troops, and Ohio said it will send 150. When asked on Monday how she feels about the additional states' troops, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser said, 'We don't have any authority over the DC Guard or any other guards.' The president has power over the DC National Guard. 'But I think it kind of makes the point that this is not about DC crime,' the Democratic mayor said. The defense official said the National Guard is operating at 10 Metrorail stations in the city. They are not carrying firearms and have not been requested to do so, the official added. As of Monday morning, 896 DC soldiers and airmen were mobilized on the mission. Asked whether they will deploy to high-crime areas of the capital, the defense official said, 'That's not the request' and that it would be more the focus of law enforcement, not the National Guard. Meanwhile, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the federal law enforcement operation is 'working,' highlighting 52 arrests Tuesday night, a similar figure to the number of average adult arrests per day in Washington, DC, in 2024. Leavitt added that 'a significant number of the arrests have been in high-crime areas of DC.' As Trump's crackdown on crime escalates, at least one Republican governor has refused to send National Guard troops from his state to the nation's capital. Vermont Gov. Phil Scott 'declined to consider a request to deploy the Vermont National Guard for law enforcement activities in Washington, D.C.,' his office said in a statement. 'While Public safety is a legitimate concern in cities across the country, in the absence of an immediate disaster and unless local and regional first responders are unable to handle such an emergency, the Governor is opposed to utilizing the National Guard for this purpose and does not view the enforcement of domestic law as proper use of the National Guard,' the statement said. Meanwhile, the chair of the Democratic Governors Association, Gov. Laura Kelly of Kansas, criticized the GOP governors who sent troops, saying in a statement, 'I implore my colleagues from Ohio, West Virginia, South Carolina, Mississippi and every other state to reject the temptation to use their soldiers to reinforce a dangerous, politically motivated agenda.' CNN's Shania Shelton and Jenna Monnin contributed to this report.
New York Times
16 hours ago
- Politics
- New York Times
Tennessee Becomes Latest Republican-Led State to Send National Guard to D.C.
The list of Republican-led states deploying National Guard troops to Washington expanded again on Tuesday as Tennessee moved to join five other states in aiding President Trump's crackdown in the nation's capital. Gov. Bill Lee of Tennessee is sending around 160 National Guard troops to Washington, Capt. Kealy Moriarty, the public affairs director of the Tennessee National Guard, said on Tuesday. They were expected to arrive by the end of this week. The Republican governors of Mississippi, Louisiana, Ohio, West Virginia and South Carolina have also pledged troops. Mr. Trump has sought to take control of law enforcement in Washington to combat what he sees as escalating crime in the capital. He has also challenged the accuracy of the city's crime statistics showing that Washington has actually become safer in the past two years. Democrats are navigating a difficult balancing act, trying to push back on the federal incursion into the nation's capital without ceding ground to Mr. Trump on issues of public safety. But on Tuesday, Gov. Laura Kelly of Kansas, the chair of the Democratic Governors Association, urged Republican governors to 'reject the temptation to use their soldiers to reinforce a dangerous, politically motivated agenda.' Deploying members of the National Guard from their states to Washington without the request and consent of local authorities, she said in a statement, 'undermines the mission of the National Guard, wastes resources needed for real emergencies and, perhaps worst of all, adds to the divisiveness that already threatens our United States.'
