Letter from America – The National Guard: A Political Battleground?

What is the National Guard?

Every state in the United States has its own National Guard – a part-time force with roots in colonial militias. Normally, they are under the command of state governors. They are deployed to assist with emergencies such as floods, wildfires, or riots.

But the president has the power to “federalize” these units – that is, to place them under federal authority and use them in large national missions. Most are part-time soldiers, training one weekend a month and two weeks a year.

Traditionally, their work supports communities: rescues after hurricanes, evacuations during wildfires, distributing COVID-19 vaccines, and helping during major protests.

From Washington to Los Angeles – and now Chicago?

In August 2025, Trump ordered National Guard units into Washington, D.C. to “preserve law and order.” Armed soldiers manned checkpoints and stood in front of schools, angering parents. The slogan became: “Leave our kids alone.”

The irony: crime in D.C. was at its lowest level in 30 years.

In Los Angeles, the Guard was deployed alongside immigration officials, at checkpoints and detention centers – a controversial expansion of its role.

Now Trump is threatening Chicago, a city where crime has already fallen sharply. New York City has also been mentioned as a target.

Trump’s Executive Orders

On August 25, Trump announced an executive order: he wants the Secretary of Defense to establish “special units” within the National Guard to deal with “public order issues.”

Historians and legal experts warn this is a dangerous step, transforming the Guard from a support force into a domestic police force.

He also claimed he had “saved D.C. from destructive crime,” even though crime rates were at their lowest in a generation. And he went further still: ordering the Department of Justice to impose a one-year prison sentence on anyone who burns a U.S. flag – though he has no authority to do so.

The Facts Trump Ignores

The White House says deployments are needed in response to crime. But the numbers tell a different story:

• Shootings and homicides in Chicago are down 23–30% this year; 2024 was the safest year in five years.
• Crime in Washington, D.C. is at its lowest in 30 years.
• Republican-run cities like Shreveport, Louisiana and Charleston, West Virginia are far more violent – yet no Guard has been sent there.

It’s plain: Democratic cities are being labeled “lawless,” while worse problems exist in Red states.

Red Flags

The 1878 Posse Comitatus Act prohibits regular federal troops from acting as police. While the National Guard is usually under governors’ control, the President can place them under federal command in certain situations.

But usually this happens with the consent of the state itself – not through threats from the White House.

A Strong Response from Pritzker

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker left no doubt about his stance after learning of Trump’s threats against Chicago:

“This is a manufactured crisis, not a real one. It has nothing to do with crime. It has everything to do with Donald Trump’s political nightmare.”

He called the move “unconstitutional, illegal, and un-American.”

He emphasized the facts:

• 13 of the 20 cities with the highest murder rates are under Republican leadership.
• 8 of the 10 states with the highest murder rates have Republican governors.
• “Chicago isn’t even on those lists.”

And his strongest message:

“Mr. President, don’t come here to Chicago.

We don’t want you here, and you are not welcome here.”

The Danger of Authoritarianism

Until recently, the United States was viewed as a model of democratic practice.

But when leaders use military force against their own citizens, it signals a slide toward authoritarianism. And once military power is brought into civilian life, it is hard to remove.

Conclusion

The National Guard’s presence in D.C. and Los Angeles reveals a dangerous misuse: soldiers being deployed to police politics instead of protecting people.

By exposing the lies and standing firm, leaders in Chicago remind us of a simple truth: The National Guard was not created to frighten civilians, but to protect them.