National Guard troops in DC to begin carrying weapons under Trump's crime crackdown

Описание: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered that National Guard members patrolling Washington, D.C., for President Donald Trump’s federal crackdown will now be armed, the Associated Press confirmed with the Pentagon on Friday.

This comes after the Pentagon and U.S. Army officials said last week that guards would not carry weapons.

The D.C. National Guard's Interim Commanding General retains the authority to make any "necessary force posture adjustments" while coordinating with D.C. police and federal law enforcement, according to a statement to 7News from a Pentagon official.

“At the direction of the Secretary of Defense, JTF-DC members supporting the mission to lower the crime rate in our Nation’s capital will soon be on mission with their service-issued weapons, consistent with their mission and training," a portion of the statement read.

Mayor Muriel Bowser said she doesn’t support it.

“I don't think you have an armed militia in the nation's capital,” said Mayor Bowser.

President Donald Trump spoke to some of the troops in Southeast D.C. the night before the announcement.

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