National Guard Takes to the Streets of DC in Support of Trump’s Crime Crackdown: ‘Reporting for Duty’

National Guard troops began deploying to the streets of Washington, DC, Tuesday, one day after President Trump signed an executive order aimed at addressing crime concerns in the nation’s capital.

“DC National Guard reporting for duty,” the US Army posted on X, including photos of several military Humvees parked near the Washington Monument on the National Mall.

D.C. National Guard reporting for duty

The #USArmy has activated the D.C. National Guard as directed by the President under Title 32 to assist Federal and Washington D.C. law enforcement within the national capitol.

U.S. Army photos by Staff Sgt. Deonte Rowell, August 12,… pic.twitter.com/4cRWw572kl

— U.S. Army (@USArmy) August 12, 2025

Guardsmen, activated under the president’s Title 32 authority, were even spotted posing for pictures with tourists on the first night of their deployment in the district.

Earlier, the White House indicated that the National Guard was expected to “begin being on the streets starting tonight,” according to the Washington Post, citing an anonymous official.

Only a small fraction of the 800 National Guard members expected to take part in the crime crackdown mission had been mobilized as of Tuesday afternoon, with more expected to deploy in the coming days, a Department of Defense official told the outlet. (Read more from “National Guard Takes to the Streets of DC in Support of Trump’s Crime Crackdown: ‘Reporting for Duty’” HERE)

Photo credit: Flickr