Trump pulls National Guard from Chicago, LA and Portland, warns forces may return
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump said National Guard troops were pulled from Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland, while warning that federal forces could return if unrest resurfaces. The announcement followed weeks of legal challenges and political pushback over the use of the Guard in Democratic-led cities.
Trump said the deployments had helped curb crime and protect federal personnel but claimed local leaders failed to acknowledge the impact. He added that the federal government remained prepared to act again if conditions worsen.
We are removing the National Guard from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland, despite the fact that CRIME has been greatly reduced by having these great Patriots in those cities, and ONLY by that fact. Portland, Los Angeles, and Chicago were GONE if it weren’t for the Federal…
— Commentary: Trump Truth Social Posts On X (@TrumpTruthOnX) December 31, 2025
Trump says National Guard reduced crime in major cities
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the National Guard had played a key role in stabilising Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland, arguing that crime levels dropped only because of federal intervention.
“We are removing the National Guard from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland, despite the fact that CRIME has been greatly reduced by having these great Patriots in those cities,” he wrote.
He added that without federal involvement, the cities would have been “gone,” crediting the Guard with protecting federal buildings and personnel.
Trump warns federal forces could return
Despite the withdrawal, Trump made it clear the move may not be permanent. He warned that federal forces could return in a stronger form if violence increases.
“We will come back, perhaps in a much different and stronger form, when crime begins to soar again — only a question of time!” he wrote.
Trump also criticised Democratic mayors and governors, accusing them of incompetence and claiming they opposed federal help despite improved public safety.
Supreme Court ruling blocks Chicago deployment
The announcement followed a legal setback for the administration after the Supreme Court declined to overturn a lower court ruling that blocked the federalisation of roughly 300 National Guard troops in Chicago.
The administration had argued that the deployment was necessary to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, claiming local authorities were failing to enforce federal law. The ruling effectively halted those efforts.
Judges previously blocked deployments in California and Oregon
Legal obstacles had already emerged in other states. In California, a federal judge blocked the deployment of 4,000 National Guard troops ordered to Los Angeles following violent incidents near ICE facilities and returned control to Governor Gavin Newsom.
In Oregon, Trump federalised around 200 Guard members to protect federal property in Portland. A federal judge later issued a permanent injunction preventing the deployment, a decision the administration is still appealing.
Washington, DC deployment cited as success
Unlike state-level deployments, the federal government retains broader authority in Washington, DC. Trump and his administration have pointed to reduced violent crime following the Guard’s presence in the capital.
However, the mission came at a cost. Last month, two West Virginia National Guard members assigned to Washington, DC were shot in what authorities described as a targeted attack. One service member was killed, while the other sustained serious injuries.
