Washington D.C. residents rally against Trump’s National Guard deployment

Demonstrators attend the "We Are All D.C." march in Washington, D.C., U.S., 6 Sept., 2025.
Reuters

Thousands of Washington D.C. residents marched on Saturday to protest President Donald Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops and federal law enforcement across the city, calling for an end to what they describe as an “occupation.”

At the “We Are All D.C.” march, demonstrators, including undocumented immigrants and supporters of Palestine, chanted slogans such as “Trump must go now,” “Free DC,” and “Resist Tyranny.”

Protester Alex Laufer said, “We're opposing the authoritarian regime, and we need to get the federal police and the National Guard off our streets.”

The troops were deployed last month after Trump cited rising crime, placing the city’s Metropolitan Police under federal control and sending federal law enforcement, including ICE agents, to patrol streets. 

More than 2,000 National Guard troops from six Republican-led states are currently stationed in D.C., with orders extended through 30 November.

Critics argue the deployment is unconstitutional, and Washington D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb has filed a lawsuit seeking to block it.

Supporters, however, say the troops have improved safety in downtown and tourist areas, while some call for patrols in higher-crime neighborhoods.

Mayor Muriel Bowser praised the drop in crime but emphasised the importance of ending the National Guard’s mission soon and ensuring coordination with federal law enforcement.

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