Polls Show Donald Trump’s Troop Deployment in Major U.S. Cities Unpopular, Risking Political Backlash

The recent military deployments by President Donald Trump on U.S. soil seem to follow a recurring political pattern. Trump leverages an issue that is both a significant strength for him and a major concern for many Americans, with the intention of expanding his power. However, his actions often exceed what most Americans find acceptable.

This pattern was evident in the case of immigration and deportations, and it appears to be repeating itself with Trump’s decision to station troops in major American cities to combat crime.

Three new polls have been released on this issue, as Trump considers sending troops to a third city, Chicago, following deployments in Los Angeles and Washington D.C. These polls suggest that the public disapproves of the president’s military interventions, even though they acknowledge the seriousness of the crime problem and show openness towards less aggressive solutions.

An AP-NORC poll indicates that 81% of Americans view crime in large cities as a “major problem.” Yet, they strongly oppose the federal government taking over local police departments by a margin of 55% to 32%.

Similarly, a Reuters-Ipsos poll reveals only 36% endorse Trump’s takeover of the DC Metropolitan Police. Additionally, Americans are opposed to deploying the National Guard, with 46% in favor and 38% against.

A Quinnipiac University poll also shows registered voters disapprove of Trump using the National Guard to combat crime in D.C., by a margin of 56% to 41%.

These figures echo those seen after Trump’s initial deployment of troops to Los Angeles in June. Multiple polls showed his handling of the situation was unpopular, even as the military and Marines primarily protected federal property.

The new polls reveal some nuance and the situation hasn’t yet negatively impacted Trump overall. However, they suggest potential challenges ahead for the president’s initiative to militarize U.S. soil.

For instance, the AP-NORC poll indicates that Americans are open to a limited role for troops on U.S. soil. They find using the military and National Guard to assist local police at least “somewhat acceptable,” with 55% in favor and 37% against.

However, Trump’s actions seem to exceed this threshold. It remains unclear how his future plans for troop deployments in Chicago and other cities would be limited to this extent.

Since D.C., as the nation’s capital, is a federal district, Trump has more authority to call in the troops and control the situation by federalizing the police force. In cities like Chicago, he doesn’t have the same authorities.

If Trump does send in the troops, it will likely be against the wishes of Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, both Democrats. In such a scenario, it would be difficult to see how the troops would merely assist local police – versus conducting their own law enforcement or even taking over policing duties.

The administration has yet to release its plans, but Trump stated on Tuesday that he has “the right to do anything I want to do” in Chicago.

It remains uncertain whether these actions will have political repercussions for the president, potentially forcing him to reassess his approach.

Initial polls suggest Trump’s approval rating on crime is relatively high at 53%. However, other polls show it significantly lower, at 43% (Reuters-Ipsos) and 42% (Quinnipiac). Crime remains his best issue in each poll, but given his overall unpopularity, this does not say much.

Returning to the immigration comparison: In the past, situations like these have drawn attention to something Americans dislike, leading to a decline in Trump’s numbers.

Indeed, this was the case when Trump called in the troops for the first time. Trump’s approval rating on immigration experienced its biggest drop coinciding with his deployment of troops to Los Angeles during protests against his deportation policies. His net approval rating on immigration dropped approximately 8 points within a week – from a positive 4% to a negative 4%.

His numbers have yet to recover.

The Trump administration had been implementing controversial deportation policies as early as March, including denying due process to undocumented migrants, attempting to deport pro-Palestinian activists with legal status, and wrongfully deporting individuals. However, it seemed to take the deployment to Los Angeles to fully grasp public disapproval. Polls at the time showed those paying close attention opposed Trump’s mobilization of troops more than those who were less engaged.

Could this trend be repeating itself, this time with crime? Only time will tell. However, the concept of troops on U.S. soil is something Americans have historically found uncomfortable. And Trump’s repeated efforts to test their tolerance in this regard appear to be meeting resistance.