Trump deploys 800 National Guard troops to Washington, takes control of city police

In an extraordinary assertion of presidential authority, U.S. President Donald Trump has deployed 800 National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., and temporarily taken control of the city’s police department.

The move, which bypasses the city’s elected leaders, is being cast by the president as a necessary measure to “rescue” Washington from a wave of lawlessness. This marks the second time this summer that the president has deployed troops to a city with democratic leadership. Trump has also signaled that other cities, including Chicago, could be next.

The U.S. Army stated that the National Guard troops will perform tasks including “administrative, logistics and physical presence in support of law enforcement.” The president has invoked Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, which gives him the power to take control of the police force during emergencies.

The action has been met with protests and condemnation from local officials, including Mayor Muriel Bowser, who disputes the president’s claims about a crime crisis, citing a significant drop in violent crime from its peak in 2023.