President Donald Trump has ordered a dramatic expansion of federal control in the nation’s capital, enlisting hundreds of National Guard troops from three states to reinforce his crackdown on crime and homelessness. The deployments, announced over the weekend, follow Trump’s executive order placing the D.C. police force under federal authority and activating 800 local Guard members earlier in the week. Now, West Virginia, South Carolina, and Ohio are each contributing troops, swelling the federal presence in the city to levels unseen in decades, according to multiple reports.
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey said his state would send 300 to 400 Guard members, equipped with specialized training and mission-essential gear. “West Virginia is proud to stand with President Trump in his effort to restore pride and beauty to our nation’s capital,” Morrisey declared.
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster pledged 200 troops, while stressing that state emergencies would still take precedence. “Our National Guard will work to assist President Trump’s mission, and should a hurricane or natural disaster threaten our state, these men and women can and will be immediately recalled home to respond,” McMaster said.
From Ohio, Governor Mike DeWine confirmed 150 military police would be dispatched to conduct patrols and provide security support. “These Ohio National Guard members will carry out presence patrols and serve as added security,” DeWine noted, emphasizing that none are currently serving as law enforcement officers in Ohio.
Administration officials insist the Guard’s role is limited. A White House source told CBS News the troops “are not making arrests at this time” but may be armed to protect federal assets and “deter violent crime with a visible law enforcement presence.”
Trump has framed the effort as a necessary response to what he calls a “crime and homelessness emergency” in Washington, despite local statistics showing a decline in violent crime in recent years. Supporters hail the move as decisive federal leadership, while critics warn that the federalization of policing threatens local governance and civil liberties.
With nearly 1,600 National Guard troops now operating in Washington, the city has become the proving ground for Trump’s broader law-and-order agenda — and the latest flashpoint in the battle over federal power and urban control.
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Thanks Red States
GOOD JOB MR PRESIDENT. IF NOTHING HAD BEEN DONE. THEY’D BE SCREAMING!