President Donald Trump signed an order deploying the National Guard to Memphis, Tennessee, aiming to combat crime in the city, mirroring his approach in Washington, D.C. The deployment, which will involve a special task force with various federal agencies, was announced with Republican Governor Bill Lee present, although details on the timing and specifics of the enforcement efforts were not immediately available. Despite recent reports of crime decreases in Memphis, the White House cited the city’s higher-than-average crime rate as justification for the intervention. While Memphis’s Democratic mayor expressed opposition to the deployment, Trump indicated a willingness to send troops to other cities, including Chicago, regardless of local support.
Read More
The National Guard inadvertently shared internal documents with The Washington Post revealing significant troop disillusionment with their deployments in Washington D.C. The documents, meant for internal analysis, highlighted negative public reactions, including veterans expressing “shame and alarm” at the deployments. This unforced error exemplifies the military’s carelessness, mirroring the overall sloppiness of the Trump administration. The released documents show that many troops are unhappy with the current situation.
Read More
Representative Boebert argued that objections to the National Guard’s temporary presence in the city are hypocritical. She pointed out that there was no outcry from Washington D.C. residents or opposing political figures when a substantial National Guard presence was deployed around the Capitol, restricting First Amendment rights. Boebert framed this prior deployment as a similar scenario to the current one, implying that the current objections are inconsistent with past reactions. However, this comparison is a misrepresentation of the events of January 6, 2021, and the reasons behind the National Guard’s involvement.
Read More
Governor JB Pritzker expressed caution regarding President Trump’s shifting stance on deploying National Guard troops to Chicago, noting silence from sources connected to the administration. Trump had previously indicated he would announce a deployment to a different city, a move that would be a political victory for Pritzker. While the threat of military deployment appears to have diminished for now, Pritzker anticipates an increase in federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement activities. This announcement was made the same day Trump announced the “Midway Blitz,” a measure that has not yet significantly increased arrests.
Read More
The deployment of over 2,200 National Guard members to Washington D.C. was initiated by President Trump, who claimed it would combat crime despite declining local crime rates. However, the National Guard’s role has proven largely ineffective, with soldiers primarily tasked with observing and reporting crimes to local police, rather than actively participating in law enforcement. Rules of engagement restrict the National Guard’s ability to make arrests or use weapons, while also potentially violating the Posse Comitatus Act. This deployment, costing a million dollars per day, is now being used for purposes like maintaining the city’s parks.
Read More
President Trump amplified his intention to send National Guard troops and immigration agents to Chicago via a social media post featuring a parody image referencing “Apocalypse Now”. The president’s post included the phrase, “‘I love the smell of deportations in the morning,’” prompting criticism from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, who labeled Trump a “wannabe dictator.” This announcement follows Trump’s previous deployments of troops to other Democratic-led cities and a recently signed executive order seeking to rename the Defense Department the Department of War. The promised operation in Chicago faces strong opposition from city and state leaders, who are planning to sue the administration.
Read More
Conservative commentator Megyn Kelly criticized Donald Trump’s plans to expand his crime crackdown, which began in Washington, D.C. with the federalization of police and deployment of the National Guard. Kelly called the proposed action in cities like Chicago “unconstitutional,” particularly in light of a recent court ruling against Trump’s military deployment in California. Trump has since suggested he might wait for an invitation from Chicago’s governor, while shifting his focus to New Orleans, where the governor requested assistance. Kelly reluctantly agreed with the Illinois governor, stating Trump does not have legal permission to implement this plan without an invitation.
Read More
Thousands of protestors rallied in Washington, D.C. Saturday against the Trump administration’s crime crackdown, organized by the Free DC Project. The demonstration, titled “We Are All DC: A National March,” aimed to end the administration’s perceived occupation of the city. This protest followed a lawsuit filed by D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb challenging the legality of National Guard patrols, which have been extended through November. Despite protestors’ claims, crime rates, while previously low, have continued to decrease since the federal enforcement surge, and the federal takeover of the D.C. police force is set to expire without Congressional action.
Read More
Governors from several states are expressing deep concerns about President Trump’s potential use of military assets to disrupt upcoming elections. They believe Trump may attempt to influence or even take control of elections by deploying the National Guard and federal agents to key cities. These governors warn that such actions could be a tactic to suppress voter turnout and undermine democratic processes, possibly by falsely claiming issues with elections. They further highlight his public criticism of mail-in voting and his past efforts to subvert election results, emphasizing the urgency to address these actions, which are reminiscent of historical authoritarian strategies.
Read More
Officials in Washington, D.C., are suing the Trump administration, alleging the president violated the Constitution and federal law by deploying thousands of National Guard troops into the city without local consent. The lawsuit claims the troops, many from out of state, have been deputized by the U.S. Marshals office and are conducting law enforcement activities. The deployment is argued to undermine the city’s autonomy, erode trust, and harm the local economy. While the White House claims the lawsuit is an attempt to undermine the president’s anti-crime efforts, the lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court, seeks to stop the violations and preserve the District’s sovereignty.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker