President Donald Trump proposed utilizing American cities as military training grounds during a speech to U.S. military generals and admirals in Quantico, Va. He emphasized the need for the military to address what he termed as “the invasion from within” rather than focusing solely on foreign matters.
Trump singled out cities such as San Francisco, Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles, criticizing them as unsafe due to policies of radical left Democrats. He expressed his intention to address these issues systematically.
Despite pushback from state governors and officials, Trump has persistently threatened to deploy the National Guard in cities governed by Democrats, including Portland and Chicago. This approach has raised concerns as it diverges significantly from traditional presidential norms.
The president’s rationale for deploying military personnel stems from his criticism of Democratic crime and immigration policies in cities like Portland and Chicago. However, governors of Oregon and Illinois have contested this portrayal, asserting that their cities are not war zones as described by Trump.
The use of the National Guard in domestic situations is typically at the discretion of state governors unless federalized. Trump’s focus on specific cities aligns with his regular critique of Democratic governance. U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham praised Trump’s speech as a positive departure from the status quo.
Canadian figures, including former Conservative cabinet minister Lisa Raitt and Liberal strategist Dan Moulton, expressed concern over Trump’s eagerness to involve the military in domestic affairs. While alarming, they noted that not all of Trump’s proposals materialize into action.