National Guard troops begin being armed in Washington, and Trump hints at expanding his “anti-crime” operation to other cities

Two weeks ago, despite objections from Democrats and protesters, US President Trump deployed hundreds of National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., citing increased violence and homelessness. Now, those marching through the streets of the nation’s capital have been authorized to carry weapons. As part of Trump’s “crackdown on crime,” National Guard troops patrolling Washington will begin carrying weapons on the evening of the 24th. Anonymous officials revealed that the exact number of members carrying weapons is uncertain, but they will be equipped with either M17 pistols or M4 rifles. The National Guard task force taking over Washington clarified in a written statement that day that Guard members “will only use their weapons as a last resort, in situations where there is an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury.” US Secretary of Defense Hegseth authorized the deployment of approximately 2,200 National Guard members to carry weapons on the 22nd, marking a shift in the Guard’s mission. Previously, they were unarmed and supported law enforcement by assisting with community safety patrols, coordinating traffic control points, and facilitating crowd movement. Since Trump announced on the 11th the deployment of the first 800 National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., and the federal government’s takeover of the D.C. Police Department, over 2,000 National Guardsmen and soldiers from other states have been patrolling the city over the past two weeks. This deployment has sparked protests, concern, and unrest among residents. Protesters gathered in Northwest Washington on the 23rd to protest the Trump administration’s deployment of the National Guard. In response to the opposition, Trump vowed to go further, expanding the “anti-crime” operation to Chicago and hinted at sending troops to other Democratic-run cities, such as Baltimore, Maryland.