U.S. President Donald Trump has decided to temporarily withdraw his proposal to send National Guard troops to Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland, Oregon, due to legal obstacles. Trump announced on social media that the troops are being pulled back for now, with a potential return in a stronger capacity if crime rates rise again. Troops had already departed from Los Angeles after being initially deployed earlier in the year as part of a broader effort to address crime and immigration issues. While they were sent to Chicago and Portland, they never took to the streets as legal challenges unfolded.
The president has emphasized a tough stance on crime in cities as a key focus of his second term, considering the idea of invoking the Insurrection Act to counter legal impediments. He views his crime-fighting agenda as a winning strategy for the upcoming midterm elections.
In November, the U.S. Northern Command announced adjustments in operations in Portland, Chicago, and Los Angeles, ensuring a continuous and long-term presence in each city. Trump’s attempts to deploy troops in cities led by Democrats have faced legal hurdles at every step.
The Supreme Court declined in December to permit the deployment of National Guard troops in the Chicago region for immigration enforcement, marking a notable setback for the administration. Moreover, District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb filed a lawsuit to halt the deployment of over 2,000 guardsmen.
Although hundreds of troops from California and Oregon were dispatched to Portland, a federal judge prohibited their presence on the streets. The deployment of National Guard troops in Portland was permanently blocked by a judge following a trial in November. Similarly, California National Guard troops were withdrawn from Los Angeles by mid-December following a court ruling, with an appeals court temporarily pausing another part of the order involving control transfer back to Gov. Gavin Newsom.
The Trump administration recently indicated in a court filing that it is no longer seeking to pause the order, enabling the California National Guard troops to return fully to state control after being federalized in June. California Attorney General Rob Bonta hailed this development as a significant legal victory, criticizing the politicization of the military by the president.
Furthermore, Trump had directed the deployment of the Tennessee National Guard to Memphis in a bid to combat crime, a move that received backing from the state’s Republican officials. However, a Tennessee judge intervened, siding with Democratic state and local leaders who contested the use of the Guard.