Consider This from NPR 'Is this really happening?' National Guard Members on Trump Deployments
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Nov 13, 2025 Kat Lonsdorf, an NPR reporter, ventures to Ohio to connect with National Guard members grappling with their deployment under Trump. They share their feelings in an encrypted group chat, exploring doubts about their missions and the political implications of serving in cities like D.C. Reluctance about these deployments emerges, along with fears of becoming political tools. The Guardsmen reflect on their oaths, considering whether to stay in the military and the importance of questioning orders in a charged climate.
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Encrypted Group Chat For Guard Members
- A small group of Ohio National Guard members created an encrypted group chat to process unease about Trump deployments.
- They used the chat to share questions, news, and mutual support away from official channels.
Deployments Clash With Guard Expectations
- Guard members expect hurricane and disaster responses, not long-term presence patrols in U.S. cities.
- Seeing troops on routine city streets felt like fear-mongering and challenged their understanding of military purpose.
Top Rhetoric Creates Cracks In Cohesion
- Political rhetoric from the top can create cultural cracks inside the military and ripple through units.
- Statements from leaders free others to echo polarizing messages and widen fault lines in cohesion.