WASHINGTON — National Guard troops are increasingly seen patrolling U.S. cities, with military resources being redirected to combat international drug trafficking and enforce immigration policies. President Donald Trump is rapidly advancing his vision of the military as a key instrument for achieving his policy objectives. This approach marks a significant shift in the military's role, traditionally reserved for wartime or extraordinary circumstances, and is reshaping its relationship with the American public.

As Trump escalates the military's involvement in domestic affairs, many Republicans in Congress have largely supported his actions, providing him with considerable latitude. Plans are underway to deploy troops to cities such as Chicago, Baltimore, and New Orleans. "If I were one of those mayors, I’d be glad to have the help," said Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee. He criticized Democratic leaders in major cities, suggesting they are out of touch with public safety concerns.

Louisiana lawmakers, representing a state that surrounds the predominantly Democratic New Orleans, echoed this sentiment. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, stated, "New Orleans, like most Democrat-run cities, has a high crime rate, so it would be helpful." Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., added, "We need all the help we can get. I’m delighted to bring in the National Guard."

Crime has become a focal point for Republicans, with recent polling indicating that 81% of Americans view crime as a significant issue in large cities. This includes nearly all Republicans, about three-quarters of independents, and nearly 70% of Democrats. Despite this perception, overall crime rates have decreased nationally, with some cities experiencing 30-year lows.

Historically, the deployment of National Guard troops on American soil has been limited to extraordinary situations, such as natural disasters or civil unrest. Past instances of military involvement in law enforcement include the 1894 Pullman strike in Chicago and the 1992 riots following the Rodney King verdict. Experts note that Trump's approach is distinct because it does not respond to a specific crisis but instead seeks to implement broader domestic policies.

Joseph Nunn, an attorney at the Brennan Center’s Liberty and National Security Program, remarked, "All of these things indicate an administration that is making a broad, concerted effort to insert the military into civilian law enforcement in a way and on a scale that has no precedent in American history."

Trump has asserted his authority to send National Guard troops to cities, even against the wishes of state governors. "I’m the president of the United States. If I think our country is in danger — and it is in danger in these cities — I can do it," he stated recently.

Congress has established laws governing the deployment of the National Guard domestically, but as Trump tests these limits, the Republican-controlled Congress has largely remained passive. This has led to judicial intervention, with a federal judge recently ruling that the Trump administration violated the Posse Comitatus Act, a law that restricts military involvement in domestic law enforcement. U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer expressed concern that the administration's actions could lead to the creation of a national police force under presidential control.

Andrew Wiest, co-founder of the Center for the Study of the National Guard at the University of Southern Mississippi, noted that the framers of the Constitution aimed to prevent such military overreach. He explained that the early leaders were cautious about granting the president excessive control over military forces, recalling the historical context of British military actions in the colonies. "This is another one of those pendulum moments where the Guard will become more federal or maybe it will swing back in the other direction," Wiest said. "But since the founding of the Republic, it’s been swinging towards the federal side."