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Trump orders National Guard withdrawal from cities
US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday the removal of National Guard troops from several major cities, including Chicago and Los Angeles, following a Supreme Court decision that restricted his authority to deploy forces for domestic policing.
Supreme Court ruling triggers pullback
The withdrawal comes after the Supreme Court ruled last week in Trump v. Illinois that the president lacked the constitutional power to send troops into Chicago for law enforcement purposes. The administration subsequently dropped its legal efforts to maintain control over troops in Los Angeles.
Troops deployed amid legal battles
Hundreds of National Guard members had been stationed in Chicago and Portland, Oregon, though they had not yet begun active street patrols due to ongoing legal challenges. Trump had justified the deployments as necessary to combat crime and illegal immigration, a claim critics dismissed as an overreach of executive authority.
Mixed reactions from local leaders
California Governor Gavin Newsom welcomed the withdrawal, calling it an admission of defeat. In a post on X, Newsom stated, "This admission by Trump and his occult cabinet members means this illegal intimidation tactic will finally come to an end." He further characterized the move as Trump's attempt to save face, saying it resembled "the political version of 'you can't fire me, I quit.'"
"There is at least another branch of government that recognizes that the overreach by the president is a real threat to our democracy."
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, speaking to MS Now
Troops remain in Washington DC
While Trump confirmed the withdrawal from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland, he made no mention of Washington DC, where National Guard troops continue to patrol. The president suggested in his Truth Social post that the troops could return "in a much different and stronger form" if crime rates rise again.
Governors retain authority over National Guard
Under normal circumstances, National Guard troops fall under the command of state governors. Trump's attempts to deploy them in Democratic-led cities sparked multiple lawsuits, with opponents accusing him of undermining democratic norms.
