Trump Proposes National Guard Deployment in New Orleans for Crime Control

President Donald Trump suggested that the National Guard might be sent to New Orleans as part of efforts to tackle crime in the area. He mentioned that the governor of Louisiana had expressed a desire for federal assistance in handling crime issues.

During a meeting with Polish President Karol Naulocki, Trump noted that his administration was considering locations like Chicago or potentially New Orleans to address crime challenges. His comments came amid pushback from Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson regarding the presence of federal agents, especially after several shootings over the Labor Day weekend.

“We’re determined now,” Trump stated. “Would you like to go to Chicago? Or perhaps a place like New Orleans, where we have a great governor, Jeff Landry? We want to come and fix a very wonderful section of this country.”

He added, “So we’re probably going to Louisiana; New Orleans has crime issues. We could sort it out in about two weeks—it’ll be easier than in D.C.”

In response, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry welcomed Trump’s offer of assistance, stating that the state would benefit from support “from New Orleans to Shreveport.”

While Landry was positive about Trump’s help, New Orleans City Council Chairman JP Morrell criticized the idea of deploying the National Guard, calling it “ridiculous” to send troops to a city that doesn’t want them. He elaborated, saying, “They cannot resolve crimes or interview witnesses and are not constitutionally trained like police officers.”

A report from Breitbart News highlighted that after at least 54 individuals were shot in Chicago over the Labor Day weekend, Trump reaffirmed his commitment to quickly addressing crime issues, as he previously did in Washington, D.C.

On Monday, it was reported that at least 53 people had been shot, with multiple fatalities occurring. By the end of that day, the total number of shooting victims in Chicago had surpassed 54, contributing to at least seven deaths.

Earlier this August, Trump announced that he was invoking Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, placing the Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal oversight and mobilizing the National Guard to combat crime in the capital. Following this, reports indicated a 22% decrease in violent crime in Washington, D.C.