Raskin: Trump's National Guard DC deployment is 'recipe for chaos'

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) on Monday said President Trump’s crackdown on crime in Washington using the National Guard is “a recipe for chaos.”

“Now they’re mobilizing the National Guard, they’re bringing the National Guard in from South Carolina, from Ohio, from West Virginia, from all these states, why?” Raskin, whose congressional district borders the District, said on MSNBC’s “The Weeknight.”

“And what’s the precedent for that? I’m not even sure what the authority for that is, under whose direction are they serving? Are they being directed by the governors of those states or are they under President Trump’s direction now?” Raskin added.

“But does that mean they’ve been federalized, because I don’t believe they’ve been federalized. So, this is just a recipe for chaos, and if this is the template for what he wants to do in all of these other so-called ‘Democrat-run cities,’ it is a recipe for chaos.”

Trump last week declared a “crime emergency” in D.C., mobilizing 800 members of the National Guard, taking control of the city’s police department and sending federal agents to patrol the streets, despite a drop in crime since 2023.

Multiple states with Republican governors are sending National Guard troops to the District to participate in Trump’s crime crackdown. About 1,100 members of National Guard units based in six states had been announced by Tuesday morning, with multiple governors stating that the federal government is financially supporting their assistance and that the Trump administration asked for reinforcements. 

The Hill was directed by West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s (R) office to Adjutant General of the West Virginia National Guard Maj. Gen. Jim Seward’s Sunday post on social platform X.

“The West Virginia National Guard answers the call when our neighbors need help,” Seward wrote. “Our dual mission of support to state and federal authorities includes support to law enforcement under United States Code, Title 32 502(f).”

Over the decades this has included support to law enforcement, help with fires, floods, and hurricanes, to name a few,” he continued. “The current mission is federally funded and based on a federal request.”

Dan Tierney, deputy director of media relations for Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R), said in an email to The Hill that “Ohio has traditionally helped the District of Columbia, Ohio mayors, and other states when they request assistance from the Ohio National Guard or the Ohio State Highway Patrol.”

“Ohio has provided National Guard before to assist the District of Columbia with the inaugurations of both Donald Trump (R) and Joe Biden (D) as well as during the George Floyd protests,” Tierney added.

The Hill has reached out the White House and South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster’s (R) office for comment.

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