National Guard soldiers and aviators authorized to carry weapons to DC

Defense secretary Pete Hegseth authorized nearly 2,000 soldiers and aviators of the National Guard to be armed in Washington, DC if their mission requires, confirmed an American official at Fox News.

“In the direction of the Secretary of Defense, the members of the JTF-DC supporting the mission of reducing the crime rate in the capital of our country will soon be on a mission with their weapons issued by the service, in accordance with their mission and their training,” an American defense official told Fox News.

The Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, on the right, and the interior secretary Doug Burgum listen to as President Donald Trump is expressed with journalists in the news room of James Brady Press in the White House, Monday, August 11, 2025, in Washington, DC, DC, (Mark Schiefelbein / Photo)

Vance says that the National Guard “ Breaking its A- ‘in Washington, Flott de la Mission

“The acting general commander of the DC National Guard retains the power to make force of force necessary in coordination with the Metropolitan Police of DC and the federal partners to apply the law. The National Guard of DC remains determined to protect the District of Columbia and to serve those who live, work and visit the district,” added the official.

Troops could start carrying weapons in the coming days, although they will not be able to arrest. In addition, they will always be under the order to temporarily hold people if necessary before transferring them to the police as soon as possible.

The soldiers of the Southern Carolina National Guard ensure that travelers arrive at the entrance to the Union station near the Capitol, Thursday, August 21, 2025, in Washington, DC (Mariam Zuhaib / AP Photo)

Troops of the National Guard of Six Red States go to DC to help fight crime

President Donald Trump met the police and the staff of the National Guard on the front line of his crime on Thursday. The president also declared that he had been flooded with calls thanking him, telling the staff of the police that it was “a great tribute to you”.

“We want to make it absolutely perfect. It is our capital. And, I suppose it was many years ago, in complete safety, but it certainly did not have a very good race. And you have to be strong. You have to be difficult. You have to do your job. Everything you need to do your job, you have to do your job,” said Trump.

President Donald Trump is expressed with members of the law forces and soldiers of the National Guard, Thursday, August 21, 2025, in Washington, DC (Jacquelyn Martin / AP Photo)

Trump joins police and military forces in the streets of Washington

The same day as Trump’s meeting with the police and the national guard staff, the DC Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) confirmed to Fox News Digital that there had been no homicide in the city for more than a week, coinciding with repression.

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MPD released its 2025 Comparison of annual crime Friday, which noted that violent crimes in the city have dropped by 27% since 2024, including a 12% decrease in homicides. The city has experienced an 8% drop in crime in the past year, according to the MPD report.