Trump Threatens to Send Troops Beyond the National Guard to U.S. Cities

Overview

• Speaking aboard the USS George Washington in Japan, Trump said he would deploy forces beyond the National Guard if needed to pursue a national crime crackdown.
• Federal troops have been sent to Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Chicago, Memphis and Portland, drawing protests and lawsuits in several cities.
• The White House has shifted what began as a D.C.-focused operation into a coast-to-coast effort designed to highlight Republican toughness on crime.
• Gallup reports 49% of Americans believe crime rose over the past year despite FBI data showing a 4.5% decline, and more oppose than support domestic use of federal troops with opinions split by party.
• Democratic leaders accuse the administration of exaggerating problems to justify what they call an illegal occupation, noting D.C. violent crime was at a 30-year low before the Guard arrived.