Republican States Send National Guard Troops to Washington DC

• Aug 17, 2025

Three Republican-led states will send National Guard troops to Washington, DC, adding to the forces President Donald Trump has already deployed in the capital. The move has stirred opposition among city leaders and sparked fresh protests by residents.

On Monday, Trump declared a “public safety emergency,” insisting that the capital was under “complete and total lawlessness.” At his request, West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey announced the deployment of 300 to 400 National Guard troops. South Carolina will send 200 troops, while Ohio will contribute 150 military police, according to their governors. These forces will join the roughly 800 troops already stationed in Washington.

Federal law enforcement agents have also been patrolling alongside the Guard, focusing on the city’s busiest and most visible areas. But many in Washington, where 92% of voters supported Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, see the deployment as heavy-handed and politically driven.

Over the weekend, residents staged demonstrations against the administration’s actions. Hundreds marched from Dupont Circle through the streets, chanting “Free DC!” while some beat drums and rang bells. Protesters accused Trump of misrepresenting the city’s safety situation.

Trump has portrayed Washington as plagued by “violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals,” pointing to recent incidents, including the attack on a former employee of his Department of Government Efficiency. But local officials strongly dispute his claims.

Mayor Muriel Bowser acknowledged a spike in crime in 2023 but stressed that rates have since declined sharply. Data from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) shows homicides dropped 32% between 2023 and 2024, reaching their lowest point since 2019. Preliminary 2025 data indicates violent crime is down 26% compared with the same period in 2024, while robberies have fallen 28%, according to MPD and BBC Verify.

The Trump administration had attempted to seize control of the MPD under the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, but withdrew after city officials challenged the order in court. However, Judge Ana Reyes later ruled that Mayor Bowser must follow White House directives on enforcement matters.

Despite the controversy, Trump has doubled down on his claims, while residents continue to push back, demanding greater autonomy and a rejection of what they see as political interference in their city.