‘They’re going all the way’: GOP governors deploy National Guard to DC for Trump police takeover

Political Landscape & Power Dynamics - Republican governors from West Virginia, Ohio, and South Carolina are deploying National Guard troops to Washington DC, with defense officials reversing their stance to arm many of these troops [1] - Across the country, Americans are protesting against what they perceive as a power grab by Texas Republicans, specifically a gerrymandering plan aimed at securing Republican control of the House of Representatives in the 2026 midterm elections [2] - The Democratic National Committee organized "Fight the Trump Takeover" protests in 43 states, with significant demonstrations in Texas, Chicago, and Austin [3] - The administration is perceived to want US troops to be responsible for law enforcement in Washington DC, potentially circumventing home rule and local police force control [8][9][10] Potential Expansion of Federal Power - There is concern that the arming of National Guard troops signals an intention to replace local police forces with federal troops [11][13] - The president might invoke other emergency powers to expand the federal presence in cities [12] - The president wants to invoke the Insurrection Act, which would allow the use of the US military for civilian law enforcement on US soil [27][28] Political Motivations & Approval Ratings - The deployment of troops is viewed by some as an "authoritarian spectacle" to deflect from the president's mounting scandals and weakening political position [20][21] - The president's approval rating is at 37%, close to his post-January 6 low of 34% [20] - The president's high approval ratings among Republicans, particularly MAGA Republicans (high 80s, low 90s), are a key factor in his decision-making [23][25] States' Rights & Political Hypocrisy - Critics point out the apparent inconsistency of Republicans advocating for states' rights while simultaneously supporting federal intervention in Democrat-led cities [17][18] - 13 of the 20 US cities with the highest homicide rates are in Republican states, yet the focus is on Democrat-run cities [19]