Pentagon says every national guard soldier deployed in Washington DC ‘is now armed’

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/02/national-guard-washington-dc-armed

Move to arm all 2,375 estimated troops marks shift in rules of engagement for domestic military deployments

The Pentagon said on Tuesday that every national guard member deployed in Washington DC would now be armed with live weapons, and that they had begun conducting joint patrols with the local police department.

The directivefollows the ambush shooting of two guard members near the White House last week, an incident that has prompted the Trump administration to order hundreds of additional troops to the city. One of the national guard members has since died from her injuries.

The escalation also comes as a recent order finding the national guard deployment in Washington DC unlawful is on hold, pending consideration of the Trump administration’s appeal.

227 points · 51 comments · view on lemmy.world

51 Comments

y0kai@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 122 pts · 273d (1 reply)

so CIA guy escalates war on civilians when civilians weren't doing it for them.

Archangel1313@lemmy.ca · 33 pts · 273d

Yup.

givesomefucks@lemmy.world · 91 pts · 273d (2 replies)

They blame it on a shooting last week but...

“National guard members supporting this mission have been armed with their assigned duty weapons since August 2025, in support of civil authorities and at the request of the lead federal agency,” a JTF-DC spokesperson said.

WHARRGARBL@lemmy.world · 21 pts · 273d
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SkyezOpen@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 272d

Why is this shocking? The guard had loaded rifles during the George Floyd protests.

velindora@lemmy.cafe · 49 pts · 273d (6 replies)

Don’t they already?

SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world · 28 pts · 273d

Yeah, but they still are, too

credo@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 273d (4 replies)

Armed, maybe. Ammo is a different question.

velindora@lemmy.cafe · 4 pts · 273d (3 replies)

They had ammo.

credo@lemmy.world · -1 pts · 273d (2 replies)

You asked?

velindora@lemmy.cafe · 5 pts · 273d (1 reply)

Well, no. But… if you were to place a bet, would you bet that they had unloaded guns on their body?

credo@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 273d

Actually, yes.

Archangel1313@lemmy.ca · 41 pts · 273d (16 replies)

So, more blatantly illegal orders from Pete Hegseth? Cool. Add it to the list of charges against him...and as soon as Trump is out of office...drop the hammer on his nuts and throw him in the darkest hole the military has available for traitors like him.

SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world · 24 pts · 273d (10 replies)

Fascism won't die with Trump.

dan1101@lemmy.world · 26 pts · 273d (8 replies)

Nope but we need to place great pressure on our representatives to put in safeguards against this in the future. The government has become like the early internet, too dependent on general good will and honorable behavior.

Cricket@lemmy.zip · 14 pts · 273d

The government has become like the early internet, too dependent on general good will and honorable behavior.

Yes, I've seen this called the "norms fairy" before, since a lot of people seem to be believe that "norms" can actually stop people in power from doing bad things.

frizzo@piefed.social · 4 pts · 273d (6 replies)

Hold your tongue, the early Internet was awesome. Surrendering rights for "safety" and cheap plastic junk is the problem you're an adult no one is coming to save you and no revolution or freedom was won without violence.

dan1101@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 271d (1 reply)

Early internet was definitiely awesome, but it had no safeguards to prevent things like spam and malware.

frizzo@piefed.social · 1 pts · 271d

Yes it's amazing we got rid of all the spam, malware, credit card scams and ads...

Boozilla@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 273d (1 reply)
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frizzo@piefed.social · 1 pts · 272d

Interesting you choose "white male power fantasies" I see I don't even need to debate you.

bobgobbler@lemmy.zip · -1 pts · 273d (1 reply)

lol you literally don’t know what you’re talking about tons were won without violence. Maidan, Portugal, Spain, all over thrown without violence. Hell we even had non violent revolution via civil rights.

You’re probably just some shitty AI from Russia or Israel tho

frizzo@piefed.social · 1 pts · 272d

Interesting take mr bootgobbler please tell me how there was no violence during the civil rights movement.

6stringringer@lemmy.zip · 5 pts · 273d

It will be a great day nonetheless.

FuglyDuck@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 273d (1 reply)

I’d rather clamp them slowly in a machinist’s floor vice.

Pic for reference.

Archangel1313@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 273d

The slower the better.

frongt@lemmy.zip · 4 pts · 273d (2 replies)

No. They have been armed in every other Trump deployment too.

Archangel1313@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 273d (1 reply)

I was under the impression that according to the law, they were not permitted to have live rounds in their weapons though...which basically means they're "unarmed". Maybe I misunderstood.

snooggums@piefed.world · 1 pts · 273d

You thought they followed the law. They do not.

Ancalagon@lemmy.world · 32 pts · 273d

That makes sense hard to have a massacre without armed troops.

Formfiller@lemmy.world · 31 pts · 272d (1 reply)

Raise your hand if you think the shooting was a false flag operation organized by Pedo Antionette and his cronies

Raiderkev@lemmy.world · 15 pts · 272d

The one committed by the "former" CIA asset? No waaaay

Entertainmeonly@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 24 pts · 273d (1 reply)

Wonder which secret service man shot the national gaurds?

CmdrShepard49@sh.itjust.works · 27 pts · 273d

It was probably the FBI that planned the whole thing, gave the guy the weapon, and goaded him into doing it just like they've been doing for decades so they can run to the news and talk about how they "foiled a terrorist plot."

pelespirit@sh.itjust.works · 17 pts · 273d

This seems like trump is kicking the bucket naturally and they're trying to set up for when their "dear leader" isn't the figurehead anymore. That might be why the Mark Kelly+ vet video about following unlawful orders came to be. We'll have dumb and dumber running the country. All speculation though.

NuXCOM_90Percent@lemmy.zip · 16 pts · 273d

Just remember everyone: the real victims the armed jackbooted thugs holding a populace at gunpoint in honor of rapists and nazis. And if you don't Support The Troops then you are literally worse than hitler

DarkFuture@lemmy.world · 15 pts · 272d (1 reply)

And millions of Americans are armed.

HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 272d

I wish, I really wish, the majority of those armed millions were not in favor of fascisn

etchinghillside@reddthat.com · 10 pts · 273d

Next up - each soldier gets their own tank.

remon@ani.social · 7 pts · 272d

... with a selfie stick.

Gotta produce that content for the Department of WAR, yeah!!!

Bakkoda@sh.itjust.works · 7 pts · 272d

And all they had to do was sacrifice two of their own and burn what's most likely a liability asset.

MehBlah@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 272d

I'm sure they will defend themselves against another false flag attack.

TotallynotJessica@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 6 pts · 272d

As I've long been saying, every active service member who didn't want to commit crimes against the populus needed to prepare to leave in November. If you only have regrets once shit hits the fan, there will be consequences.

dream_weasel@sh.itjust.works · 6 pts · 273d (1 reply)

So... they were just warm bodies in cute little war outfits before?

lando55@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 271d

I mean I figured arming your militia was pretty standard practice, what percentage of them were deployed without bear arms

Corvidae@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 272d (1 reply)

Search says open carry is illegal in Washington DC.

modus@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 272d

That's only for law-abiding citizens.

SirMaple__@lemmy.ca · 4 pts · 273d
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LemmyBruceLeeMarvin@lemmy.ml · 2 pts · 273d

Well isn't that convenient

burntbacon@discuss.tchncs.de · 0 pts · 273d

Free guns, everybody! Anybody know how the weapons are actually handled? Is there a central point where they show up to each day and are given a gun, or do they keep them on them at all times?

LuigiMaoFrance@lemmy.ml · -1 pts · 272d (2 replies)

I believe the official title is "Department of War". https://www.war.gov/

ArtVandelay@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 271d

Cool. Fuck the official title.

_Nico198X_@europe.pub · 1 pts · 271d

it's not. like everything they do, they are LARPing.

ohulancutash@feddit.uk · -2 pts · 273d

I hope that people adequately thank these psychopaths for their service. All Soldiers Are Psychopaths.