Defense Secretary Discusses National Guard Deployment in DC
On Monday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegses appeared on Fox News’ “Ingraham Angle,” where he addressed his authority regarding the deployment of National Guard members in Washington, DC. He mentioned that while he has “a wide latitude” in granting permits, he clarified that the National Guard would not partake in any law enforcement functions.
President Donald Trump announced earlier that day his intention to deploy the National Guard in the capital to address rising crime rates. During the interview, Ingraham questioned Hegses about the potential for the National Guard to “detain Americans on American soil.” Hegses responded, noting, “Under Title 32, the authorization they use, they have a wide latitude. But they don’t get involved in law enforcement functions. They stand with our federal agents, like in Los Angeles. They’ll be aggressive. If you initiate actions against them, there will be consequences.”
Trump, along with Hegses and other officials such as Attorney General Pam Bondy and FBI Director Kash Patel, expressed to reporters that Washington is facing a “public safety emergency.” This decision to deploy the National Guard followed Trump’s suggestion during a press conference after a severe attack on former government efficiency members.
Ingraham further inquired about what the National Guard would do if they witnessed a crime. Hegses stated that they could accompany law enforcement and support them, noting that common sense would guide their actions. He stressed, “I’m not going to let them just stand there if they see a crime happening.” He elaborated, saying that, similar to actions taken in Los Angeles, the National Guard could temporarily detain individuals and hand them over to law enforcement.
Amidst this, some Democrats and media analysts argue that crime rates have actually dropped by 35% in 2024, although this is contested by local police data that calls into question the validity of those statistics, particularly concerning serious crimes like felony assaults. In July, it was reported that an investigation was initiated against a DC police commander, Michael Puliam, who allegedly manipulated crime statistics in his area.
Trump’s announcement follows a post he made about the rising crime in DC, which included a picture of a man who appeared to have been brutally attacked, although he did not name the individual.
According to a report from the Metropolitan Police Department, on August 3, former Doge member Edward Coristine encountered a suspect while another individual was near a vehicle. The suspect approached, expressing a desire to interact with the woman present. Concerned for her safety, Coristine and other Doge members intervened. After police were summoned, Coristine was attacked, leading to the arrest of two minors involved in the incident.
This incident is part of a troubling trend. Notably, Republican intern Eric Tarpinian Yachim was killed in the city on June 30, and there were shootings involving Israeli embassy staff near the capital shortly before that.
