Thousands protest Trump’s deployment of National Guard in Washington DC
Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Washington DC on Sunday to protest the deployment of the National Guard and federal forces by President Donald Trump.
The protesters demanded the immediate withdrawal of security forces patrolling the city and called for Trump to step down. Many carried banners reading Trump must go now',Free DC’, and `Resist authoritarianism’.
According to TRT World, the march, titled “We Are All DC”, included undocumented immigrants and supporters of Palestinian statehood. Participants chanted slogans against Trump and brought posters expressing their opposition to his policies.
One protester, Alex Laufer, said: ‘I’m here to protest against the occupation of DC. We oppose authoritarian rule. Federal police and the National Guard must leave the streets.’
Trump has defended the deployments as necessary to restore ‘law and order and public safety’, citing concerns over crime. He also placed the Metropolitan Police Department under federal control and mobilized federal agencies, including ICE, on city streets. Critics have described these actions as an abuse of federal power.
However, official statistics show that violent crime in Washington DC fell to its lowest level in 30 years in 2024, raising questions about the justification for the military presence.
Unlike other states, the DC National Guard reports directly to the President, not a governor. On Tuesday, Trump announced plans to send National Guard units to Chicago, the country’s third-largest city, prompting concerns about potential legal conflicts with local authorities. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker confirmed that ICE agents and military vehicles had already been deployed to Chicago, with further deployments planned.
Another protester, Casey, said: ‘What’s happening in DC is what authoritarian governments do elsewhere. If people allow it here, it will gradually spread to other places. We must stop it before it’s too late.’
Currently, more than 2,000 troops, including units from six Republican-led states, are patrolling Washington DC. Their mission has been extended, with National Guard duties set to continue until 30 November.
