President Donald Trump ordered the removal of all National Guard troops from Washington, D.C. on Sunday morning.
In a tweet, Trump announced, “I have just given an order for our National Guard to start the process of withdrawing from Washington, D.C., now that everything is under perfect control. They will be going home, but can quickly return, if needed. Far fewer protesters showed up last night than anticipated!”
I have just given an order for our National Guard to start the process of withdrawing from Washington, D.C., now that everything is under perfect control. They will be going home, but can quickly return, if needed. Far fewer protesters showed up last night than anticipated!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 7, 2020
On Saturday night, Trump had also acknowledged the smaller crowd, despite predictions that Washington D.C. would see its largest yet protest crowd amid the recent George Floyd and Black Lives Matter protests.
“Much smaller crowd in D.C. than anticipated. National Guard, Secret Service, and D.C. Police have been doing a fantastic job. Thank you!” Trump tweeted Saturday night.
Much smaller crowd in D.C. than anticipated. National Guard, Secret Service, and D.C. Police have been doing a fantastic job. Thank you!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 7, 2020
Trump’s order comes days after D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser demanded all military be removed from her city, including National Guardsmen sent in to the city from other states.
The Utah National Guard released a statement on Friday that 200 Guardsmen were being kicked out of DC hotels. “Last night, we were informed that our service members would be relocated from their hotel rooms,” the Utah National Guard said in a statement Friday, as Fox News reported.
Bowser said they were being removed over a “budget issue,” calling it “overbilling” that DC residents would not be responsible for. “At no time did we intend or would we would be able to effect evicting any guardsman from any hotel,” Bowser said.
Bowser did, however, send a letter to Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on Friday to request he remove all 100 Ohio National Guardsmen from the city, Cleveland.com reported.
Bowser sent a similar letter to Trump, accusing him of “inflaming” protests with the deployment of troops to the city.
“I continue to be concerned that unidentified federal personnel patrolling the streets of Washington, D.C., pose both safety and national security risks,” Bowser wrote in the letter to Trump. “The deployment of federal law enforcement personnel and equipment are inflaming demonstrators and adding to the grievances of those who, by and large, are peacefully protesting for change and for reforms to the racist and broken systems that are killing Black Americans.”
Trump had lashed out at Bowser on Friday, accusing her of fighting with the troops.
“The incompetent Mayor of Washington, D.C., @MayorBowser, who’s budget is totally out of control and is constantly coming back to us for ‘handouts’, is now fighting with the National Guard, who saved her from great embarrassment over the last number of nights. If she doesn’t treat these men and women well, then we’ll bring in a different group of men and women!” Trump tweeted on Friday.
…over the last number of nights. If she doesn’t treat these men and women well, then we’ll bring in a different group of men and women!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 5, 2020
“Mayor Bowser is grossly incompetent, and in no way qualified to be running an important city like Washington, D.C. If the great men and women of the National Guard didn’t step forward, she would have looked no better than her counterpart Mayor in Minneapolis!” Trump said in another tweet on Friday.
.@MayorBowser is grossly incompetent, and in no way qualified to be running an important city like Washington, D.C. If the great men and women of the National Guard didn’t step forward, she would have looked no better than her counterpart Mayor in Minneapolis!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 5, 2020
