Trump’s fire of fury against blue states
Washington, New York, and California are three states whose electoral votes have never swung in favor of Republicans in the Electoral College. This has provided sufficient motivation for the current U.S. president to initiate repressive immigration policies targeting these states. Trump launched the deployment of the National Guard in what he described as a “limited and controlled civil war” in Los Angeles, claiming that homeless individuals and undocumented immigrants were conducting unrestricted maneuvers there.
For the first time in four decades, Trump took this action without the consent of California’s governor. The story did not end there: he threatened Governor Gavin Newsom with dismissal and arrest for refusing to cooperate with the National Guard in suppressing undocumented immigrants.
National guard deployed to Washington
Now, Washington is next in line for Trump’s new anti-immigrant attacks and National Guard operations. According to the Wall Street Journal, following Trump’s order to deploy the National Guard to Washington, the number of troops in the U.S. capital is set to increase. Contrary to earlier statements by the Department of Defense, these troops will be armed in the coming days. Trump previously stated that the deployment aimed to “retake” the capital from “violent criminals,” a term he uses to describe homeless immigrants and long-term informal laborers in Washington.
Many analysts of U.S. domestic politics believe the targeting of California and Washington is deliberate, reflecting Trump’s dissatisfaction with the anti-Republican nature of these states. In contrast, red states such as Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Florida, Michigan, Nevada, and Ohio—where Trump and the Republicans secured decisive victories over Kamala Harris and the Democrats in the 2024 presidential election—are not subjected to such measures. Although Trump conceals his electoral and political motives toward these states, even his closest allies are aware of his broader strategy.
As the midterm elections approach, it seems Trump’s efforts to exact revenge on blue states (Democratic states) will intensify. The president believes that increasing chaos in blue states will ultimately create substantial security and political costs for Democratic governors.
National guard presence is not symbolic
Some Trump-affiliated officials recently claimed that the National Guard deployment to Washington is symbolic and should not be compared to the deployment in Los Angeles. However, these sources argue that the Guard’s presence is a “guarantee” to expedite the deportation of immigrants, and until federal police can manage the situation, the Guard will not take action.
Following Trump’s statements, the Department of Defense announced the deployment of 800 National Guard troops to the capital. Initially, these troops were not expected to carry weapons or even keep them in their vehicles. According to Euronews, the U.S. Army stated: “Weapons are available if needed, but they remain in the armory.”
Field evidence, however, does not match these claims. The Wall Street Journal reported that some National Guard members were instructed in recent days to await orders to carry arms. It appears Trump intends to solidify this trend and expand the National Guard presence to additional states.
Patrick Morrisey, governor of West Virginia, also recently announced that at Trump’s request, 300–400 National Guard soldiers would be sent to Washington. According to the Department of Defense, the Guard’s duties include visible presence in public areas, administrative and logistical tasks, and even “environment beautification”—tasks fundamentally inconsistent with the Guard’s mission.
Simplifying the issue in Republican style
As mentioned, media and senior Republican officials are attempting to justify the Guard’s mission in states like Washington and California using terms such as “de-escalation.” According to Pentagon officials, the National Guard has received training in de-escalation techniques and will act similarly to their June deployment in Los Angeles, where over 4,000 Guard troops, 700 Marines, and other federal officers were deployed in response to protests against ICE raids. Images of Guard vehicles at immigration checkpoints and Marines alongside ICE teams sparked widespread criticism of Trump’s actions.
It is evident that Trump is pursuing an organized, targeted revenge against residents of blue states, causing confusion and strong dissatisfaction among Democrats. Local authorities in Washington have warned that the National Guard lacks proper training for public safety and that military intervention in law enforcement is inappropriate and potentially dangerous. Nevertheless, Trump shows no signs of abandoning his course. Phil Mendelson, head of the D.C. Council, emphasized that National Guard soldiers are trained for warfare and natural disasters—not tasks typically performed by local police.
Which state Next?
New York appears to be one of Trump’s next targets. As a major hub of Republican opposition, National Guard deployment in New York in the coming days seems highly plausible. Any unrest caused by this deployment could extend to neighboring states. New York borders Vermont, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island to the east, New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and Pennsylvania to the west. This story is far from over…