As tensions rise in the nation's capital, Washington D.C. is witnessing the arming of some National Guard troops. The Defense Department has confirmed through an official who spoke on the condition of anonymity that selected National Guard units are now authorized to carry service weapons. It's been reported by the Associated Press that these include handguns and rifles, with the understanding that they strictly adhere to Military guidelines which state force is permissible "only as a last resort and solely in response to an imminent threat of death or serious bodily harm," as noted by FOX 5 DC.
In line with recent developments, the Joint Task Force-DC began visibly arming service members late yesterday evening, according to their declaration. As the military arms different units, an online post by Attorney General Pam Bondi revealed that 914 arrests have been made since the onset of this administration's takeover policy. In addition, over 100 illegal firearms have been seized, per FOX 5 DC. While President Trump lauds his actions with claims of reduced crime, these assertions remain unsupported by evidence and have certainly led to further complications.
Concurrently, troops who are tasked with transportation or administrative duties will likely remain unarmed, providing a clear demarcation between operative roles within the National Guard. A CBS/AP report clarifies that fewer than 50 members were initially armed, albeit the exact locations and times of armed patrols have been withheld for security reasons.
Moving further into the civilian realm, President Trump's rhetoric about the situation in neighboring Baltimore has been met with factual rebuttals. Maryland Governor Wes Moore invited Trump to witness the city's reality firsthand, potentially to correct misstatements like those made on Truth Social where Trump has vaguely threatened to "send in the 'troops'". Baltimore's Mayor Brandon Scott, referencing a notable decrease in gun violence and homicides, contradicts the President's portrayal. Indeed, these claims are substantiated by Baltimore's own police department statistics, which indicate significant reductions as reported by Al Jazeera.
