ABC News Daily

What are Trump’s troops doing in Washington DC?

5 snips
Aug 24, 2025
Geoff Kabaservice, vice president for political studies at the Niskanen Center, delves into the surprising deployment of National Guard troops in Washington, D.C. He discusses the implications of this strategy in addressing crime, despite a decline in violent incidents. The conversation reveals concerns about militarization in domestic politics and the potential impact on local governance. Kabaservice critically analyzes Trump's motivations and the broader consequences of federal control over local law enforcement, sparking a debate on urban security and political polarization.
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INSIGHT

Trump's Dramatic Crime Framing

  • Donald Trump frames Washington, D.C. as a violent, squalid city to justify troop deployments.
  • Geoff Kabaservice says the city has crime problems but Trump exaggerates for political effect.
ANECDOTE

Visible Military Presence In Tourist Areas

  • Geoff describes seeing tank-like vehicles at Union Station and troops on the National Mall.
  • He notes those areas are not the city's high-crime neighborhoods.
INSIGHT

Unclear Tactics And Limited Transparency

  • Enforcement actions include dragnets, vehicle stops and masked officers detaining people.
  • Details remain murky because authorities haven't released clear reports.
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