Trump’s National Guard Deployment in Democratic Cities Not Politically Motivated: Interior Secretary Doug Burgum

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum asserted on Tuesday that President Donald Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to cities across the nation, particularly those led by Democrats, is not politically driven. In an interview with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, Burgum stated, “The president’s stance against crime should not be perceived as partisan; if one is against crime, aren’t they advocating for law and order?”

Burgum further elaborated that the majority of the top 25 largest cities in the U.S., which often grapple with crime issues, are predominantly run by a specific political party. He emphasized that this issue transcends partisan lines.

This year, the National Guard has been deployed in both Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., despite local Democratic opposition. Trump has also signaled plans to intervene in Chicago, with Illinois Democratic Governor JB Pritzker stating at a news conference on Monday that Trump is “neither wanted nor needed” there.

A review of FBI data by CNN revealed that at least 10 cities in states whose Republican governors have dispatched National Guard troops to Washington D.C. had higher rates of violent crime or homicide than the nation’s capital last year.

During a lengthy Cabinet meeting at the White House on Tuesday, Trump acknowledged his desire for state governors to invite guard troops into their cities to address crime-related issues. He also hinted that opposition to such actions could have political consequences. “Crime will likely play a significant role in upcoming elections,” Trump said, “with Republicans standing as advocates against crime, while Democrats seem to support it – although I’m unsure why.”

In response to allegations that Trump is targeting Democratic municipalities, Burgum reiterated, “The president is not singling out anything; rather, he is extending an offer of assistance to any city facing issues, should they require help.”