Mayor Bowser Opposes National Guard Deployment

The Mayor of Washington D.C., Muriel Bowser, expressed her opposition to President Trump’s plans, which he frames as a response to crime. She raised concerns about the legality of using the National Guard in cities nationwide.

Speaking at the Fortune Most Powerful Women conference in D.C. on Wednesday, Bowser made it clear that she does not support “the use of the National Guard for public safety.” She noted, “I don’t think it’s legal for the National Guard to police Americans on American soil. Let me start there.”

She explained that the chain of command in D.C. differs from that in other states: “Unlike most states where the governor has authority, in Washington, the National Guard is under the direct control of the president,” Bowser elaborated.

“You can call in the National Guard, but it operates fully under federal management. So, the D.C. National Guard is somewhat unique compared to other areas,” she added.

Bowser highlighted that the National Guard is typically used for emergency situations or large events but not for enforcing local laws. “We don’t deploy the Guard to enforce local statutes,” she emphasized.

In August, President Trump signed an executive order declaring a criminal emergency in D.C. and ordered the National Guard’s deployment. He later extended this action to several other Democratic-led cities.

A recent ruling from a federal appeals court reinstated part of Trump’s authority over the National Guard in Illinois, though he can no longer send troops to the state.

Bowser warned that residents of Washington—and Americans overall—should be cautious about the implications of this deployment on “our democracy.” She remarked, “We should all be concerned about military use because it’s a slippery slope.”

“If you start using it for crowd control, it could lead to broader military presence. That’s a path that could disrupt the fundamental principles of American democracy,” Bowser reflected.

Additionally, she mentioned the ongoing push for D.C. statehood, stressing that “700,000 Americans lack representation in Congress, and their voices can influence the national agenda.”

Bowser noted, “Currently, there’s a notion that we have two Democratic senators, which might be true, but the situation is more complex. Having two additional Senate voices could significantly impact issues like war, peace, and Supreme Court nominations,” she said.

When asked if he was “actively pushing” statehood in his discussions with Trump, Bowser responded to applause, saying, “We’re actively trying to steer them away from our issues.”