The soft beginning of tyranny? Trump’s federal takeover of Washington, D.C.

According to Axios, Trump recently declared that he will deploy the National Guard to Washington and place the city’s police under federal control. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Trump said that 800 members of the National Guard have been called into the capital and warned that the military could also be brought in “if necessary.”

The Washington, D.C., National Guard is the only Guard unit in the United States that reports directly to the president.

Axios published images of National Guard troops in the streets, describing Trump’s order as the “occupation” of the capital, and noted the heightened federal police presence following the declaration of a “state of emergency” to combat crime.

Al Jazeera reported that protesters gathered just blocks away from the White House, loudly booing Trump’s decision. Kia Katerji, executive director of the “Free DC” movement, called the move not only another assault on the rights of D.C. residents — who have long been politically marginalized — but also a catalyst for “escalating tensions.”

“This is just authoritarian,” Katerji told Al Jazeera amid the chants of demonstrators.

For many attending Monday’s protest, Trump’s decision underscored how little power they have to directly influence the policies of the local police forces that oversee their communities. Amari Jack, a 20-year-old student, described the move as “the first step” in a broader strategy to consolidate power in the capital, noting that Trump has for years expressed interest in controlling the areas surrounding the White House.

Trump has justified his deployment of the National Guard by claiming that local police have failed to maintain order, and that crime rates have created “intolerable” risks for federal operations. Speaking to his supporters, he declared he was “taking back the capital” and framed the move as part of a “large-scale operation” targeting gangs, drug traffickers, and criminal networks.

Military posturing in the capital

CNN criticized Trump’s rhetoric and pointed out that this is not the first time he has invoked a state of emergency to push through his agenda. In the past, Trump has used national emergency declarations in areas like the economy, energy, and border security to expand executive powers.

The network also noted that Trump’s crackdown in Washington mirrors other authoritarian actions in his second term, including sending thousands of troops to the southern border and deploying the National Guard and Navy following immigration-related protests in Los Angeles.

CNN described the use of the military in policing roles as a hallmark of authoritarian regimes, calling this “the first act of a dictator — sending troops into the streets of the capital.” Democratic members of Congress representing the D.C. area warned on Monday that this marks “the soft beginning of tyranny.”