A new phase of President Donald Trump’s “war on crime” is about to unfold, and it is raising both eyebrows and alarm bells. For the first time since his crackdown began, National Guard troops patrolling the streets of the capital will now carry weapons, shifting the city’s already tense atmosphere into uncharted territory.
From Unarmed to Armed: A Turning Point in D.C.
For the past two weeks, Washington D.C. has witnessed hundreds of National Guard troops stationed across key neighborhoods. Until now, they remained unarmed—symbolizing a federal presence without direct threat. That changes Sunday night.
Officials confirmed that Guard members will carry either M17 pistols or M4 rifles, authorized last week by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. According to a statement from the Guard’s Joint Task Force-DC, force will only be used as a “last resort” and only in the event of “an imminent threat of death or serious bodily harm.”
Trump’s Crime Crackdown Expands Beyond the Capital
But Trump’s ambitions don’t end with Washington. In his own words, the president is prepared to take his crackdown into Chicago and even Baltimore—two cities governed by Democrats and long criticized by Republicans as examples of failed crime policies.
“If Wes Moore needs help… I will send in the troops,” Trump posted on Truth Social, referencing Baltimore’s Democratic governor. In Chicago too, Trump has hinted at “intervening” despite opposition from state leaders.
Democratic Pushback: “No Authority, No Emergency”
Democrats have been quick to accuse Trump of manufacturing a crisis. Hakeem Jeffries, House Minority Leader, blasted the move on CNN, saying:
“There’s no basis, no authority for Donald Trump to potentially try to drop federal troops into the city of Chicago.”
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker echoed the sentiment, insisting no emergency existed that would justify National Guard deployment. Baltimore leaders too pointed out that the city has actually seen a double-digit reduction in gun violence this year, with homicides at their lowest in over 50 years.
Legal Loopholes or Overreach?
So how far can Trump really go? Under Title 10 of the U.S. Code, Section 12406, the president has authority to deploy National Guard units in cases of rebellion, invasion, or failure to uphold federal law. Trump cited this clause earlier when sending Guard troops to California over Governor Gavin Newsom’s objections.
In Chicago, Trump may argue that the city’s sanctuary policies obstruct federal immigration enforcement, creating grounds for intervention. Yet such a move would almost certainly face fierce legal challenges, and potentially a constitutional showdown.
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Perception vs. Reality
What complicates matters further is the narrative war. While Trump claims his federal troop deployment has already wiped out crime in D.C., official data contradicts him—showing crime has actually declined steadily over the past year, even before the crackdown.
For Trump, however, optics may matter more than statistics. By putting boots—now armed boots—on the ground, he’s sending a political message of strength, control, and defiance against Democratic-run cities.
