Military Presence Surges Under Trump’s Rule

The United States has experienced a shift towards a more conspicuous military presence across its civic landscapes. In its capital city, military personnel have become a common sight, surprisingly unnoticed by both natives and tourists. This can be seen as a manifestation of increased federal power under President Trump’s first seven months in office. The National Mall, often referred to by the National Park Service as America’s Front Yard, stands at the intersection of this seismic shift.

The National Mall, a verdant stretch that binds the U.S. Capitol with prominent monuments such as those dedicated to Presidents Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt, is usually bustling with activity. It also pays homage to veterans from World War II, Vietnam, and Korea, and to esteemed civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. The Mall enticingly lays out numerous museums and I’ve led many friends and family on tours through its charm. It has been my preferred venue for festivals, concerts, and Independence Day fireworks.

On a beautifully sunny Labor Day this year, I paid another visit to the National Mall. It was then that I noticed a distinctly new element amidst the throng of tourists – armed soldiers wearing camouflage uniforms. This sight was absent from my previous visits. It struck a discordant note as I exited the World War II Memorial, spotting a single line of five soldiers marching towards a group of nearly two dozen more, all congregated beside three vans tucked under some trees near the Reflective Pool.

The surprising fact was, apart from the occasional glance, most tourists carried about their day disregarding the heightened military presence. Photo enthusiasts seemed more interested in the two park police officers on horseback stationed on either side of the Reflecting Pool. Continuing my stroll towards the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, I stumbled upon another group of five soldiers, encircling a statue built in tribute to the women who partook in the Vietnam War.

The soldiers were engaged in observing the intricately sculpted figures, their eyes tracing the engraved inscriptions, no different from any other visitor around. When inquired about, a park ranger mentioned, ‘They’re bored. They’d rather be home with their families.’ A sentiment echoed by many residents of Washington, including me; a sentiment bolstered by a mid-August poll which revealed that 8 in 10 Washingtonians would prefer the soldiers to return home.

Eager to gain favor with President Trump, six Republican-ruled states have dispatched hundreds of their National Guard troops to join those already stationed by the federal authority, who are directly under the president’s command, unlike state-deployed soldiers. While making my way towards the Tidal Basin and the Jefferson Memorial, I crossed paths with three large, intimidating black SUVs, their licenses plates reading: ‘DHS,’ an acronym for the Department of Homeland Security, one of the spearheads of Trump’s anti-immigration policy.

The new norm of seeing around 2,200 uniformed soldiers and extra federal agents patrolling freely is unsettling to some, but the bigger concern is what lies hidden. More unnerving is the presence of elusive, masked agents in unmarked vehicles inspecting citizens seemingly without any obvious rationale, a scenario regularly captured on social media. With the presence of National Guard soldiers and federal agents from diverse agencies like DHS, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, FBI, and others, Trump’s strategy seems to steer towards establishing a federal police unit under his personal command.

This assertion was acknowledged by a federal judge this week who ruled against the application of troops as civilian law enforcers in Los Angeles, describing it as ‘creating a national police force with the President as its chief.’ Despite these interventions, Trump’s insistence on maintaining the military and law enforcement bodies beyond a legal 30-day limit, which would necessitate congressional approval, underscores his determination to control Washington’s law enforcement.

Trump boldly claims that Washington has now become a ‘CRIME FREE ZONE,’ a pronouncement that seems at odds with the fact that crimes still occur within the city like any other. It’s worth mentioning that the crime rate in Washington was at its lowest in 30 years prior to Trump’s executive order issued on Aug. 11. The directive was justified by an alleged ‘crime emergency’ which, according to Mayor Muriel Bowser, has declined even further since.

The pressing question isn’t necessarily whether crime exists, because it’s an inevitable part of all societies, regardless of their economic state or location. The matter at hand revolves around the responsible authority for maintaining law and order. Historically, it’s been the prerogative of states and local jurisdictions to police areas under their purview unless proven otherwise.

If the proposition is that more law enforcement officers equate to less crime, then the Federal government needs to stop slashing funding for these positions. The approach should instead mirror that of former President Clinton during the 90s crime outbreak: escalate funds to states and cities, which can then hire more local police officers. This tactic seemed to be effective during Clinton’s tenure.

Dispatching troops from red states to blue cities unfamiliar to them can only heighten divisions within the nation. Such divisions are also influenced by a president who stokes resentment by disparaging U.S. cities as ‘unsafe and dirty and disgusting’ (Washington), ‘hell holes’ (Chicago and Baltimore) and ‘terrible’ (L.A.).

This new reality we are witnessing isn’t customary, whether it’s in the nation’s capital that’s arguably our front yard or anywhere else in the United States. Nor does it seem likely to be passively accepted if these heavier-handed tactics continue to proliferate and protests grow alongside them.

What truly worries me is that this might be part of a broader strategy of the individual who seems to thrive on division: an excuse to deploy more troops. I fear we are witnessing the ushering of a new order where the presence of such federal forces on our civic landscapes has come to stay.