Some National Guard units patrolling DC carrying arms: Pentagon says Trump gave the direction

Some National Guard units deployed in Washington DC, under the orders of President Donald Trump have begun carrying firearms, marking an escalation in the military presence in the American capital city, the Associated Press reported.

A Defence Department official told AP that only select units on specific missions are armed — some with handguns, others with rifles. The official stressed that troops carrying weapons are trained and bound by strict rules governing the use of force.

On Sunday, an AP photographer observed members of the South Carolina National Guard outside Union Station with holstered handguns.

The joint task force overseeing security in Washington confirmed that units began carrying service weapons Sunday, noting that military guidelines allow force “only as a last resort and solely in response to an imminent threat of death or serious bodily harm.” It added that the mission remains focused on protecting “the safety and wellbeing” of residents.

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According to the Pentagon official, the order applies only to Guard members engaged in law enforcement patrols, while those handling transport or administrative duties will remain unarmed.

Thousands of National Guard troops and federal law enforcement officers are already patrolling the city’s streets, a presence that has sparked sporadic protests from locals.

The move highlights Trump’s effort to assert federal authority over state and local governments. He is also considering sending Guard units to other Democrat-led cities, including Baltimore, Chicago, and New York.

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Earlier Sunday, when Maryland’s governor offered to accompany him on a tour of Baltimore, Trump replied that he might instead “send in the ‘troops.’”