National Guard troops patrolling Washington, D.C. as part of President Donald Trump’s declared crime emergency will begin carrying weapons starting Sunday night, U.S. officials confirmed. The move comes after two weeks of unarmed patrols across the capital. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth approved the shift, with soldiers set to carry either M17 pistols or M4 rifles. A Guard statement emphasized that force would only be used as a last resort in the face of imminent threats of death or serious injury.

Pentagon Preparations And Trump’s Push

Officials said the exact number of troops authorized to carry weapons remains fluid, as the Pentagon continues contingency planning for potential deployments. Senior defense planners noted that preparations had already been made in case Trump issues further orders, including for Chicago. Trump has publicly hinted at expanding his crime crackdown to other Democratic-run cities, claiming local authorities have failed to contain violence. Democratic leaders, however, insist there is no legal or security basis for such deployments, underscoring deep partisan divisions.

Expanding The Crackdown

Trump has frequently cited crime statistics to justify his deployment of National Guard units in Washington, even though recent official data indicates crime rates have been declining. Despite this, the president has portrayed the capital as a city gripped by lawlessness and has claimed credit for recent reductions. On Sunday, Trump also suggested the possibility of deploying troops to Baltimore, accusing Democratic Governor Wes Moore of failing to address crime. Yet Baltimore police data showed a double-digit drop in gun violence and the lowest homicide numbers in more than 50 years.