The Brian Lehrer Show The National Guard on Trump's Standby
Aug 27, 2025
Dan Lamothe, a U.S. military and Pentagon reporter at The Washington Post, delves into President Trump's directive for the National Guard to ready itself for civil disturbances. He analyzes the potential impact on cities like Chicago and New York, questioning the legality of military involvement in policing. The discussion touches on historical precedents, the mental health effects on service members, and public skepticism about using the Guard for urban security. Listeners are encouraged to reflect on military roles during protests and emergencies.
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New Rapid-Response Guard Role
- The executive order creates rapid-response National Guard units to deploy to unrest faster than local authorities might handle.
- Commanders often assign non-confrontational tasks to make the Guard visible without inflaming situations.
Guard Deployed Before Mission Defined
- Deploying the Guard first and then finding missions is unusual and reverses normal mission-driven mobilization.
- That led commanders to repurpose Guard duties into low‑threat roles like sanitation to avoid escalation.
Kent State Shapes Guard Perception
- Dan Lamothe referenced Kent State as a historical wound the Guard still confronts in public perception.
- He explained D.C.'s federal status made its Guard deployment legally and practically different from states.