WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has temporarily halted his initiative to deploy National Guard troops in major cities such as Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland, Oregon, following legal obstacles that have delayed the plan.
In a social media post on Wednesday, Trump stated, “We will come back, perhaps in a much different and stronger form, when crime begins to soar again – Only a question of time!”
Typically, the governors have authority over state National Guardsmen. However, Trump had sent troops to these cities against the wishes of state and local Democratic officials, citing the need for action against crime, immigration, and protests.
The deployment of troops has been a significant aspect of Trump’s second-term agenda, particularly in urban areas. He has also considered employing the Insurrection Act to counter legal challenges to his plans. His firm stance on crime is seen as a strategic political move with the upcoming midterm elections.
In Los Angeles, troops had already been withdrawn after being dispatched earlier in the year as part of Trump’s broader strategy on crime and immigration.
Despite the legal hurdles, Trump credits the presence of the National Guard for crime reduction in the three cities, although troops never appeared on the streets in Chicago and Portland due to ongoing legal battles. In a legal confrontation over the Chicago deployment, a Justice Department lawyer clarified the Guard’s role would be to safeguard federal properties and agents rather than addressing all criminal activity in Chicago.
Local authorities have attributed crime reduction to local efforts. Portland Mayor Keith Wilson credited the city’s police and safety programs, while Chicago officials highlighted the city’s 416 homicides in 2025, the lowest since 2014.
Governors react
The Supreme Court in December blocked the Trump administration from deploying the National Guard in the Chicago area, marking a significant legal setback for the president’s efforts, although not a final ruling.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker commented on social media, stating that Trump “lost in court when Illinois stood up against his attempt to militarize American cities with the National Guard. Now Trump is forced to stand down.”
Meanwhile, in Portland, hundreds of troops from California and Oregon had been deployed, but a federal judge prohibited their street presence. In November, a judge permanently barred their deployment after a three-day trial.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek expressed that her office had not received official communication about the return of federalized troops in Portland, stating, “If President Trump has finally chosen to follow court orders and demobilize our troops, that’s a big win for Oregonians and for the rule of law.”
Trump’s initiative to federalize National Guard troops began in Los Angeles in June, aligning with a series of immigration-related protests. About 4,000 troops and 700 Marines were initially deployed to protect federal buildings and support federal agents during immigration arrests.
The number of troops in Los Angeles dwindled over time, and they were fully withdrawn by December 15 following a lower court ruling that returned control to Governor Gavin Newsom, although an appeals court had delayed the enforcement of that order. Recently, the Trump administration decided not to pursue a pause on the order.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has instructed the Trump administration to restore control of the National Guard to Governor Newsom. In response, Newsom remarked, “About time (Trump) admitted defeat,” emphasizing the illegality of the federal takeover of California’s National Guard.
Troops will continue to be stationed in other cities. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has temporarily halted a lower court’s ruling that would have ended the deployment of National Guard troops in Washington, D.C., initially deployed in August following a crime emergency declaration by Trump.
In September, Trump also ordered the deployment of the Tennessee National Guard to Memphis, supported by the state’s Republican leadership, as part of a federal effort against crime. However, a judge blocked this deployment, siding with Democratic officials, but allowed it to proceed while the state appeals the decision.
In New Orleans, approximately 350 National Guard troops have arrived in the French Quarter, expected to remain through Mardi Gras for public safety, with support from both the state’s Republican governor and the city’s Democratic mayor.
