BREAKING: In a dramatic escalation, President Donald Trump has brought in National Guard troops from West Virginia and South Carolina to patrol the streets of Washington, D.C.

West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey confirmed he is sending between 300 and 400 troops, while South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster committed another 200 soldiers at the request of the Trump administration.

The move comes just days after Trump announced he would federalize D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department — a decision that sparked lawsuits from local officials who accused the White House of staging a “hostile takeover.”

Despite federal statistics showing that violent crime in Washington dropped to a 30-year low in 2024, Trump has repeatedly described the capital as “awash in crime and homelessness.” The president claims the troop deployments are necessary to secure federal buildings, protect law enforcement, and send a visible message of strength.

On Saturday, the White House confirmed that National Guard units were already conducting patrols around Union Station and the National Mall. A senior U.S. official told reporters that an order is expected authorizing troops to carry sidearms and maintain heavier weapons nearby.

Critics argue that Trump is testing the limits of presidential power — and setting a precedent that could expand into other Democratic-controlled cities. This is not the first time: in June, Trump controversially deployed 4,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines to Los Angeles during protests against immigration raids, over the objections of California’s governor.

South Carolina’s McMaster has warned that his troops may be recalled if a hurricane emergency strikes his state. Hurricane Erin, now a catastrophic Category 5 storm northeast of Puerto Rico, could threaten the East Coast next week.