National Guard units in Washington, D.C., have begun carrying firearms as part of President Donald Trump's initiative to address crime in the capital. This decision follows a directive from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and was implemented on Sunday night. Some troops will be armed with M17 pistols or M4 rifles, while others will remain unarmed depending on their assigned missions.

A Defense Department official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that only certain units would carry weapons. These armed units are tasked with establishing a law enforcement presence in the city. The official emphasized that all personnel have received training and are operating under strict rules of engagement, stating that force should only be used as a last resort in response to imminent threats.

The deployment of armed National Guard troops comes amid Trump's claims of a crime emergency in Washington, despite official data indicating a decline in crime rates. An Associated Press photographer observed members of the South Carolina National Guard with holstered handguns outside Union Station on Sunday.

Trump has also indicated plans to extend military deployments to other cities, particularly those led by Democratic mayors, including Chicago and Baltimore. In a recent statement, he suggested he might send troops to Baltimore in response to a challenge from Maryland Governor Wes Moore, who criticized Trump's approach to crime and public safety.

"If Wes Moore needs help, like Gavin Newsom did in L.A., I will send in the 'troops,'" Trump wrote on his social media platform. Moore responded by inviting Trump to visit Maryland to discuss crime rates, asserting that the president's claims about public safety in Baltimore were unfounded.

In Chicago, where crime rates have also decreased, Trump faces pushback from local leaders. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker stated there is no emergency justifying the deployment of National Guard troops in the city. He accused Trump of attempting to manufacture a crisis and politicizing the military.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson echoed these sentiments, asserting that the city does not require a military presence and would take legal action to prevent such a deployment. He emphasized the importance of maintaining the city's humanity and resisting what he described as tyranny.

The National Guard's presence in Washington has drawn mixed reactions from residents, with some expressing concern over the militarization of the city. Protests have occurred sporadically, while some areas remained quiet as residents passed by groups of guardsmen.

The Pentagon has reportedly been preparing for potential deployments to Chicago, although no formal orders have been issued. Trump has previously invoked federal law to justify military actions in cities, citing a provision that allows the president to deploy National Guard units to enforce federal laws.

As the situation develops, the implications of Trump's military strategy and its impact on local governance continue to be a point of contention among state leaders and residents alike.