Overview

• The National Guard confirmed an internal assessment was inadvertently emailed to The Washington Post and that the documents are authentic.
• The analysis found most social media posts about the D.C. mission were negative, with 53% negative, 45% neutral, and 2% positive.
• Popular videos showed residents reacting with alarm, with one describing the Guard’s presence as leveraging fear rather than providing security.
• The report flagged fatigue, confusion, and demoralization among some service members, including complaints of an unclear mission and tasks likened to 'just gardening' on the National Mall.
• More than 2,300 Guard troops are deployed under the White House’s public safety declaration, the operation has been extended through December, and the assessment noted public criticism of federal overreach and political motives.