Trump Announces Withdrawal of National Guard From Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he is withdrawing National Guard troops from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland, citing what he described as reduced crime during their presence but warning that federal forces could return in a stronger form if conditions worsen.

The announcement comes days after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected Trump’s request to deploy the National Guard to Chicago to protect Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents during immigration enforcement operations. The Court indicated that federal law allowing a president to federalize the Guard does not apply to protecting agents enforcing immigration laws.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump argued that crime had been “greatly reduced” by the National Guard’s presence and claimed the cities would be “gone” without federal intervention. He added that future deployments remain possible, saying federal forces could return “in a much different and stronger form” if crime begins to rise again.

While the Supreme Court ruling limited Trump’s ability to federalize the Guard under existing statutes, legal experts note the president could still invoke the Insurrection Act, a 19th-century law that would allow broader use of regular military forces domestically. Trump and his aides have previously referenced the possibility of using the law during the 2024 campaign and early in his second term.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta welcomed the withdrawal, calling the administration’s use of the National Guard politically motivated. In a statement, Bonta said democratic institutions are holding despite ongoing challenges and added that his office remains prepared for future legal battles.

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