Rove: Trump’s National Guard deployments will likely be a failure.

Rove Predicts Negative Impact of National Guard Deployment for Trump

On Saturday, political strategist Karl Rove expressed concerns that the President’s plan to send the National Guard to cities governed by Democrats—despite opposition from state leaders—could backfire.

During an appearance on Fox News’ “Journal Editorial Report,” Rove referenced recent Reuters/Ipsos polls indicating that a majority of U.S. adults, specifically 58%, believe troops should be deployed only in response to external threats. This opinion is shared by 72% of Democrats, 51% of Republicans, and 53% of individuals identifying as “other.”

Only about 37% of Americans think the President should have the authority to send troops to a state if the governor disapproves. Among Republicans, this figure is 70%, while just 13% of Democrats and 28% of non-affiliated respondents agree.

“When the governor is against it, it feels partisan,” Rove noted. It creates a divide where Republicans may support overriding a governor, while Democrats object. Independents often align with the Democrats in such cases.

Rove expressed apprehension about how these numbers might impact the President’s appeal, despite some voters concerned about crime potentially appreciating his proactive measures. “In the end, I think this approach tends to be a losing one,” he mentioned. However, he acknowledged that for those worried about crime, a visible effort might come off positively.

“But, overall, I think this is ultimately going to be a loser for the president,” he concluded.

Host Paul Gigot added that the Trump administration would likely position the National Guard’s deployment as a move to protect Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and facilities, highlighting the lack of cooperation from local authorities in places like Illinois.

While Rove acknowledged Trump’s authority to deploy the military to safeguard federal facilities, he raised questions about public perception. Would people see this as analogous to the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests or as concerns over protests in places like suburban Chicago?

Rove suggested that if the protests escalate beyond peaceful demonstrations, the administration might be viewed as more justified in its actions.

“Ultimately, how this is received depends on local perceptions,” Rove remarked. If the situation improves, it could bolster the President’s image. If not, even necessary actions to protect federal sites may not yield favorable outcomes for him.

He cited a previous incident in Portland where President Trump claimed nightly violence was occurring, while local broadcasts depicted a different story, raising questions about his understanding of the situation.

By Wednesday night, reports indicated about 200 members from the Texas National Guard and 300 from the Illinois National Guard had been deployed around Chicago. Local officials, however, have sought legal avenues to prevent this deployment.