Tourists pass to members of the National Guard who are stationed on August 18, 2025 in front of the Union Station in Washington, DC (photo by Jane Norman/States newsroom)
Washington – Defense Minister Pete Hegseth approved the thousands of troops of the National Guard who were used in the Columbia district to wear their weapons while patrolling the city, said the Pentagon on Friday.
In the meantime, President Donald Trump is considering explaining a “national emergency” in order to keep the troops in the capital of the nation longer than the 30 days permitted under the law, and also explained the democratically guided cities of Chicago, New York and San Francisco for additional military missions.
Wearing weapons would be a significant escalation in the violence exhibition for the troops in the district.
“In the direction of the Defense Minister (Guard), who support the mission to reduce the crime rate in the capital of our country, will soon be a mission with its issued weapons, which match their mission and training,” said an official from the Ministry of Defense in a statement by the newsroom.
The final decision is made by Brig. General Leland Blanchard II, the provisional General Command of the DC National Guard, and every coordination will take place at DC Metropolitan Police and the federal law enforcement authorities, said the Department of Defense.
There are 800 DC National Guard members in the district, together with more than 1,260 members From six GOP countries Appointed to support Trump’s takeover of the 62 square kilometers of the district, in which 700,000 inhabitants live.
Members of the National Guard from the States Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia led by the Republicans arrived in the district this week.
It is unclear whether the 2,060 members of the National Guard will carry their “service issued by service”.
The change comes days before the students return to school in the district.
The Pentagon did not answer the question of the newsroom of States Newsroom, what kind of weapons the members of the National Guard would wear, such as rifles or hand weapons.
As a rule, a standard weapon for most of the US military is an M4 assault rifle that is a variant of the AR-15.
More cities for military violence
The President informed the reporters on Friday in the Oval Office that Chicago, New York and San Francisco could be next for military operate, similar to that Federal takeover of the district.
“After doing this, we will go to another place and we will also make it safe,” said Trump. “Chicago is a chaos … and we’ll probably do it next. That will be our next.”
Since the district is not a state, the president has the sole authority of its members of the National Guard.
The governors of the states have control over their members of the National Guard, but the president this summer the National National Guard in California has reacted to immigration protests-a test case for the operate of the state armed forces. Los Angeles has left the guard since then.
On August 11, Trump declared a “crime emergency” in the district in the district, although violent crime in the district is at a low of 30 years.
The President also referred to the law on the home rule of the district to operate the 3,400-member police of the Metropolitan Police Department for immigration enforcement.
Troops of the National Guard were sent at Patrouille-U-Bahn stations, the tourist driving national shopping center and near federal buildings in the entire district.
“The DC National Guard is still obliged to protect the Columbia district and serve those who live, work and visit the district,” said the Ministry of Defense.
Potential Trump declaration of the “national emergency”
It is unclear how long the national guard will stay in the district and the president is considering on Friday to explain a “national emergency” to keep troops in the capital of the nation.
According to a joint task force distribution of the speaker of Columbia, troops in local hotels are currently remaining in the district.
“If I have a national emergency, I can hold the troops there as long as I want,” said Trump reporters in the Oval Office.
On Friday, Trump said he was not sure how long he would keep the members of the National Guard in the district.
“The big question is how long we stay? Because we want to make sure it doesn’t come back,” Trump said with reporters back and forth with another. “So we have to take care of these criminals and get them out.”
On Thursday, Trump visited a US park police facility in a district quarter called Anacostia, in which he dealt with local and federal officials and members of the National Guard.
“You are incredible people,” said Trump. “You bring the country up and running.”
He thanked them for their service and had the officials of the White House of Hamburg handed over, which he had been cooked by a local restaurant in the White House and Pizza.
The reporter of Louisiana Illuminator Wes Muller contributed to this story.
