President Trump has taken a strong step by sending 800 National Guard soldiers to Washington, D.C. He says the city is being taken over by violent gangs and criminals. This move shows he is using more military power inside the United States than before.
The National Guard troops will help the police in Washington. Trump also took control over the Washington police department, which means it answers directly to his administration now.
Trump says he made this decision because of problems like crime and homelessness in the city.
This is not the first time Trump has used the military inside the U.S. He has also sent troops to places like Los Angeles and the southern border to help with issues like immigration and protests.
Some experts worry that this could be a test for using the military in more American cities, which could cause legal problems.
On the same day Trump announced this, a court case started in California about his earlier move to take control of the California National Guard. This case might decide how much power the president has to use military forces inside the country.
Trump has often thought about using the military to solve problems at home. During his first time as president, his chief of staff said one challenge was stopping Trump from sending the military inside the U.S. too often.
This year, Trump has been paying more attention to Washington, especially to homeless people living in tents and to crime. He talked about these issues with the city’s mayor and his top aides.
There is a law called the Posse Comitatus Act that usually stops the military from acting like police. But since January, Trump has sent the military and National Guard troops into U.S. cities several times.
For example, in June, he sent Marines and National Guard troops to Los Angeles when there were protests against immigration arrests.
At the U.S.-Mexico border, troops have helped catch and hold migrants. Military bases have been used to house people waiting for immigration decisions.
In Washington, even though 800 soldiers are ready, only 100 to 200 will help police at any time. They will mostly support police from behind the scenes and not directly deal with people on the streets. Crime in Washington is actually at a 30-year low.
In Los Angeles, troops were supposed to only protect government buildings, but they also helped immigration officers arrest people. Their stay was supposed to be 60 days but got extended to November.
No one knows yet how long troops will stay in Washington.
Experts say sending troops to do police work is tricky and can cause legal and practical problems.
In the past, presidents have used the National Guard during big emergencies. For example, after Martin Luther King Jr. was killed in 1968, troops were sent to stop riots in Washington.
Washington, D.C. is different from other states because the president has more control over the National Guard there. This makes it easier for Trump to send troops without going through extra steps.
Some people worry that if presidents keep sending troops to cities for reasons that aren’t very clear, it might become normal, and that could be dangerous for democracy.
