National Guard troops deployed to the U.S. capital under President Donald Trump's orders have begun carrying firearms, according to a statement from the military released on Sunday ,a significant shift in posture authorized by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
According to the defence department official, the weapons may be used only in self-defence or as a “last resort” against an imminent threat of death or serious injury, the federal task force managing the operation said, several armed Guard troops patrolled Washington’s Chinatown neighborhood Sunday, identifiable by “MP” patches for military police.
The armed personnel are supporting safety and security operations, while Guard members tasked with “beautification” and restoration projects will remain unarmed.
The deployment, which has drawn more than 2,200 Guard soldiers and airmen from D.C. and several Republican-led states, comes as Trump pledges to tackle crime and homelessness in Democratic-run cities. Violent crime in Washington had already fallen 27% year over year, police data shows.
Critics, including Democratic leaders, denounced the move as political theater aimed at majority-Black cities, warning that arming troops risks escalating tensions. Trump escalated the rhetoric further Sunday, threatening to send the military into Baltimore after a clash with Maryland Gov. Wes Moore.
Traditionally, the National Guard has been mobilized for disasters and civil unrest, not long-term patrols of U.S. cities.
A White House official stressed that Guard members in D.C. are not making arrests but are protecting federal assets and providing support to law enforcement.
