Donald Trump Says He’s Withdrawing National Guard from L.A., Chicago, Portland, but Warns ‘We Will Come Back’ 

President Donald Trump said he is withdrawing National Guard troops from three major U.S. cities, while cautioning that the deployments could resume if crime increases.

In a Truth Social post on Wednesday, Dec. 31, Trump, 79, announced that National Guard forces were being removed from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland. He credited the presence of the troops with a significant reduction in crime in those cities.

“We are removing the National Guard from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland, despite the fact that CRIME has been greatly reduced by having these great Patriots in those cities, and ONLY by that fact,” Trump wrote.

He added that federal intervention had been essential, warning that the situation could quickly deteriorate again. “Portland, Los Angeles, and Chicago were GONE if it weren’t for the Federal Government stepping in. We will come back, perhaps in a much different and stronger form, when crime begins to soar again — Only a question of time!” the president said.

Trump also criticized Democratic leaders in those states and cities, writing, “It is hard to believe that these Democrat Mayors and Governors, all of whom are greatly incompetent, would want us to leave, especially considering the great progress that has been made??? President DJT.”

The announcement came just over a week after the Supreme Court, on Dec. 23, rejected the administration’s request to deploy the National Guard in Chicago. The court said the administration had “failed to identify a source of authority that would allow the military to execute the laws in Illinois.” Trump did not reference the ruling in his post.

The decision follows a series of legal challenges questioning the president’s authority to use National Guard troops for domestic law enforcement, as such forces are typically under the control of state governors, according to the BBC.

The U.S. Northern Command previously said that 300 Illinois National Guard troops had been activated in the Chicago area, along with 100 Oregon National Guard troops in Portland. Another 100 California National Guard troops had been activated in the Los Angeles area.

“Our soldiers are conducting planning and training but not engaging in Federal Protection Mission operational activities,” the U.S. Northern Command said at the time, while the Supreme Court case was pending.

The troops had been assigned to a federal protection mission supporting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. That mission was halted operationally on Dec. 15, ABC News reported, citing the U.S. Northern Command.

On Wednesday, Dec. 31, California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a statement following a court ruling that returned the California National Guard “to state command and control,” according to a post on his website.

“The President deployed these brave men and women against their own communities and without regard for the constitution and federal law,” Newsom said. “We welcome our California National Guard servicemembers back to state service, where they can continue to serve and protect the people of California — long delayed due to Trump’s political theatre.”

Newsom added that he had directed National Guard leadership to move quickly to bring service members home. “I direct California National Guard leadership to work expeditiously to return state service members home to be with their families as soon as possible following their demobilization from federal service,” he said.

Trump has repeatedly defended his use of the National Guard in U.S. cities. While visiting Yokohama, Japan, in October, he spoke at length about deploying troops to places such as Washington, D.C., and Chicago.

“We’re sending in our National Guard and if we need more than the National Guard, we’ll send more than the National Guard because we’re going to have safe cities,” Trump said at the time, according to NBC 5 Chicago.

“We’re not going to have people killed in our cities. Whether people like that or not, that’s what we’re doing,” he added.