A member of the National Guard walks through the Lincoln Memorial while patrolling the National Mall, in Washington DC, on September 17. Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images

The Trump administration is escalating efforts to deploy federal law enforcement officers in several Democratic-led cities, as part of what it calls a crackdown to address crime and restore order.

President Donald Trump has described these deployments as a potential “ training ground ” for the military, with Washington, DC, Los Angeles, Chicago and Portland among the targeted cities.

While the White House views protests in Portland, Oregon, as an opening to bolster Trump’s federal crime agenda, Democratic leaders nationwide are pushing back, arguing the moves are politically motivated and unnecessary.

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