Some National Guard units in Washington are now carrying firearms in escalation of Trump deployment

AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana

AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana

AP Photo/John McDonnell

AP Photo/John McDonnell

AP Photo/John McDonnell

AP Photo/John McDonnell

AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana

AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.

AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.

AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.

AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.

AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.

AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.

AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.

AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr. ( 1 /15)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Some National Guard units patrolling the nation’s capital at the direction of President Donald Trump have started carrying firearms, an escalation of his military deployment that makes good on a directive issued late last week by his defense secretary.

A Defense Department official who was not authorized to speak publicly said some units on certain missions would be armed —