President Donald Trump announced he is suspending his push to deploy National Guard troops in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland, Oregon, after facing significant legal obstacles.
Trump maintained that he could reintroduce the idea “in a much different and stronger form” if crime rates rise in the future.
Driving the news: Governors normally control their states’ National Guard, but Trump attempted to override this in the name of combating crime, immigration and protests.
- The Supreme Court and federal judges blocked or limited Trump’s ability to send National Guard troops to these cities, siding with state leaders and local officials.
- Troops had already left Los Angeles, while legal battles prevented deployments in Chicago and Portland; Trump contended that troop presence contributed to reduced crime, though local leaders credited city police and programs.
- In Los Angeles, up to 4,000 troops and 700 Marines initially protected federal sites and agents, but were withdrawn after further court intervention.
Zoom in: Appeals courts ruled that control of the California National Guard must return to the governor, not the president, with Governor Newsom calling the federal takeover “illegal.”
- In New Orleans, about 350 Guard troops arrived to bolster safety during Mardi Gras, with bipartisan support from both the city’s mayor and the state’s governor.
- National Guard deployments ordered by Trump remain in place in Washington, D.C., Memphis, and New Orleans, backed by some local and state officials despite ongoing legal disputes.
