The National Guard DC deployment has escalated. Troops patrolling Washington at the request of President Donald Trump have now started carrying firearms. The move, announced late on Sunday, adds another layer of controversy to an already tense atmosphere in the United States capital.
Weapons authorised under strict rules
The Joint Task Force-DC confirmed that from the evening of August 24, 2025, service members began carrying M17 pistols or M4 rifles. Officials stressed that force may only be used “as a last resort and solely in response to an imminent threat of death or serious bodily harm.”
Thousands of National Guard and federal officers are already on the streets of Washington, a city with a population of just over 700,000. Their presence has sparked protests, fear, and confusion among residents.
Trump insists crime is gone
In a Truth Social post, Trump claimed there was “NO CRIME AND NO MURDER IN DC!” The statement came one week after he deployed troops, despite official figures showing crime has fallen in the capital.
Trump also hinted at sending troops to Baltimore, describing the city as “crime-ridden.” He rejected Maryland Governor Wes Moore’s invitation to walk the streets of Baltimore, insisting Moore should “clean up this Crime disaster” first.
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Crime trends tell another story
Baltimore police data shows a double-digit reduction in gun violence in July compared with 2024. The city has recorded 84 homicides so far this year — its lowest in more than 50 years, according to Mayor Brandon Scott.
In Washington, crime has also fallen, but Trump maintains the narrative of a capital overwhelmed by violence. Since DC is not a state, the president has the power to control policing there for up to 30 days.
Political backlash
Democratic leaders have criticised the deployment. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker rejected Trump’s push to send troops into Chicago. “Donald Trump is attempting to manufacture a crisis, politicise Americans who serve in uniform, and continue abusing his power to distract from the pain he is causing working families,” Pritzker said.
Meanwhile, some Republican governors have supported Trump, sending additional National Guard troops to Washington. For critics, however, the show of force illustrates Trump’s strategy of politicising security while official crime statistics suggest the opposite.
The debate over National Guard DC deployment has also reignited long-standing calls for Washington to achieve statehood, an effort stalled in Congress since 2020.
