Some of the 800 National Guard members deployed by President Donald Trump began arriving in the nation’s capital on Tuesday, ramping up after the White House ordered federal forces to take over the city’s police department and reduce crime in what the president called — without substantiation — a lawless city.
Is this something he can legally do in DC, but not other cities?
Sort of. It’s at least much much easier because DC is under the jurisdiction of Congress. The Home Rule Act allows 30 days with congressional notification. There’s no other governance structure to fight against.
If there was some real emergency and not just “Stop Talking About Epstein” in other parts of the country, the President can likely nationalize the local NG and direct them to go places and do things, but the governor and state legislature, and the state’s Congresspeople can push back. DC has none of those (sorry Eleanor Holmes Norton, not vote, no count).
Testing the waters. Unchecked, these fascists will one day knock on your door. Decide now how you wish to answer them.
Specifically, yes, though it is also specified for emergency use and is limited to thirty days. So basically he’s just doing whatever the fuck he wants and nobody with authority or means is stopping him. These are unlawful orders being followed by FUCKING COWARDS.