The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously allowed President Trump to continue deploying National Guard troops in Washington, D.C., overturning a lower court’s injunction. Vindicating the president, the judges noted the president’s unique authority over the federal district.
For context, the three-judge panel expressed concerns about deploying out-of-state Guard for law enforcement in non-consenting states, which could impact ongoing cases in places like Chicago and Los Angeles. However, the ruling did not address arguments surrounding the Posse Comitatus Act. D.C. officials vowed to continue the lawsuit.
Adding additional context, D.C. Circuit Judge Patricia Millett wrote, “Deploying an out-of-state Guard to a non-consenting State to conduct law enforcement would be constitutionally troubling to our federal system of government.”
Judge Neomi Rao, joined by Judge Gregory Katsas, stated her opinion on the matter, saying, “Permitting the District to sue the President and other federal officials based on a sovereign injury is unprecedented and likely at odds with the unique legal status of the District.”
Offering much-needed context, Spokesperson for D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb explained, “This is a preliminary ruling that does not resolve the merits. We look forward to continuing our case in both the District and appellate courts.”
Reacting to the decision, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said, “The ruling affirms Trump’s lawful authority to order the deployment, which she said has yielded tremendous results in making DC safer and more beautiful.”
Explaining his decision at the time the National Guard was activated, President Trump declared, “As President of the United States and Commander in Chief of the District of Columbia National Guard, it is my solemn duty to protect law-abiding citizens from the destructive forces of criminal activity.”
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Annoyed by the state of the capital, he noted, “You don’t want to be mugged or shot or killed in our capital, which has become very unsafe. It’s horribly run, graffiti stained, and we’re going to fix it very quickly and beautifully. We’re going to make it the most beautiful capital anywhere in the world — and we’re going to make it totally safe.”
Trump has long promised to clean up the city by sending in soldiers to clean up the streets. “We will take over the horribly run capital of our nation in Washington D.C., and clean it up, renovate it, rebuild our capital so that it’s no longer a nightmare of murder and crime, but rather it will become the most beautiful capital anywhere in the world, which it was once before,” he vowed.
Adding to this point, Trump stated, “We’re going to take over Washington D.C. — we’re going to federalize it. We’re going to have the toughest law enforcement in the country. We’re not going to have any more crime, and it’s going to look beautiful.”
Further, in a post on Truth Social, he commented on the difficulty of getting his judges confirmed because of the do-nothing Senate, saying, “‘Blue Slips’ are making it impossible to get great Republican Judges and U.S. Attorneys approved to serve in any state where there is even a single Democrat Senator. If they say no, then it is OVER for that very well qualified Republican candidate. Only a really far left Democrat can be approved. It is shocking that Republicans, under Senator Chuck G, allow this scam to continue. So unfair to Republicans, and not Constitutional. I am hereby asking Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a fantastic guy, to get something done, ideally the termination of Blue Slips. Too many GREAT REPUBLICANS are being, SENT PACKIN’. None are getting approved!!! President DJT”