# So, this is it, right? (Trump Announces He is Federalizing DC Police, and More) **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [August 11, 2025, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-this-is-it-right-trump-announces-he-is-federalizing-dc-police-and-more/1021929 "2025-08-11T15:42:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2025, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-this-is-it-right-trump-announces-he-is-federalizing-dc-police-and-more/1021929/172 "2025-08-17T09:45:04Z")
I love how people here want to discuss “rules of engagement” when their very presence is a clear message to anyone thinking about opposing/protesting that the rules as they know them do no longer apply. In fact, making that statement is the whole point. ---
**Author:** ![Chad\_Sudan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chad_sudan/32/4509_2.png) [@Chad\_Sudan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chad_Sudan)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2025, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-this-is-it-right-trump-announces-he-is-federalizing-dc-police-and-more/1021929/173 "2025-08-17T10:41:00Z")
The worst part is that, while this militarization is being ratcheted up slowly, so as not to draw resistance… there is no resistance to speak of. The regime is pushing on an open door. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2025, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-this-is-it-right-trump-announces-he-is-federalizing-dc-police-and-more/1021929/174 "2025-08-17T14:30:39Z")
At this stage I don’t even know what resistance could accomplish. It’s frightening. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2025, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-this-is-it-right-trump-announces-he-is-federalizing-dc-police-and-more/1021929/175 "2025-08-17T15:10:59Z")
> [@The\_Librarian](#): > > I love how people here want to discuss “rules of engagement” when their very presence is a clear message to anyone thinking about opposing/protesting that the rules as they know them do no longer apply. Yep. Argue the trivia, not scream against the very idea. DC is the prototype. “Oh yeah, he can do it, it’s DC.” Hit up Chicago, Philadelphia, and Boston. “Well he has the power in emergencies and it’s working in DC.” Re-deploy in LA and hit Seattle, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco. “He’s already done it in other cities, so he can do it. Nothing new here.” Is definitely a plan and it’s working. He found a beautiful way to take over. All those second amendment “fight big government” types are _supporting_ the federal takeover of cities by military occupation. The same people that idolize Waco and Ruby Ridge are _supporting_ military deployment _inside America_ to override local control of policing. “But maybe they will do some good.” Sure. And rats eat bedbugs, but I wouldn’t encourage a rat infestation to fight a bedbug infestation. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2025, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-this-is-it-right-trump-announces-he-is-federalizing-dc-police-and-more/1021929/176 "2025-08-17T15:40:58Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > To get a solid Democratic majority in Congress, you need centrists candidates like Marie Gluesenkamp Perez and (this next is so centrist as to be a little painful even for me) Jared Golden who can and do actually win in Trumpy districts. But to actually accomplish anything, you need centrist candidates like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Tammy Duckworth. The old-guard Democrats have consistently refused to even acknowledge the situation our country is in. ---
**Author:** ![Toxgoddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Toxgoddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxgoddess)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2025, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-this-is-it-right-trump-announces-he-is-federalizing-dc-police-and-more/1021929/177 "2025-08-17T16:25:33Z")
I am chomping at the bit to do something but there has not been much leadership on the Dem side as to what we should do. I follow 50501, I attend protests, I call and email representatives, I have signed petitions, I’ve donated money. All of it feels useless and performative. What else can we so? I’ll do it. Boycott, strike? I’m in. But I’m not seeing a nationwide push for these or other measures. It’s beyond frustrating. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2025, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-this-is-it-right-trump-announces-he-is-federalizing-dc-police-and-more/1021929/178 "2025-08-17T17:03:42Z")
> [@Toxgoddess](#): > > I am chomping at the bit to do something but there has not been much leadership on the Dem side as to what we should do. I follow 50501, I attend protests, I call and email representatives, I have signed petitions, I’ve donated money. All of it feels useless and performative. What else can we so? I’ll do it. Boycott, strike? I’m in. But I’m not seeing a nationwide push for these or other measures. It’s beyond frustrating. I’ve done 90 per cent of these performative actions as well and I feel even more hopeless. I have no power or influence on anything that happens in the political sphere. I am just trying to survive at this point. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2025, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-this-is-it-right-trump-announces-he-is-federalizing-dc-police-and-more/1021929/179 "2025-08-17T19:41:03Z")
People are peacefully protesting. [https://www.npr.org/2025/08/16/nx-s1-5504861/trump-dc-protest-federal-takeover-white-house](https://www.npr.org/2025/08/16/nx-s1-5504861/trump-dc-protest-federal-takeover-white-house) > [@](#): > > Catherine Ernst told NPR she’s lived in the D.C. area for seven years and thinks it’s important to show opposition. She was also hoping for a larger turnout. > > “It’s a lot better than lying down and letting it happen. We need more people in the movement to stop what’s happening,” Ernst said. ---
**Author:** ![rsat3acr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@rsat3acr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsat3acr)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2025, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-this-is-it-right-trump-announces-he-is-federalizing-dc-police-and-more/1021929/180 "2025-08-17T22:32:44Z")
nitpick: Champing at the bit. ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2025, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-this-is-it-right-trump-announces-he-is-federalizing-dc-police-and-more/1021929/181 "2025-08-18T00:43:38Z")
> [@rsat3acr](#): > > Champing at the bit. I knew this, too. What I didn’t know, though, is that “champing” in this context can be pronounced, more or less, like “chomping”. At least according to Merriam-Webster: [CHAMP Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/champ) ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2025, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-this-is-it-right-trump-announces-he-is-federalizing-dc-police-and-more/1021929/182 "2025-08-18T16:15:52Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > Let’s go back to Nazis. Hey, at least they dressed better than Trump. And those gladiator movies, what can you say? ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2025, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-this-is-it-right-trump-announces-he-is-federalizing-dc-police-and-more/1021929/183 "2025-08-21T21:28:36Z")
Well, he’s doing a ride along tonight in DC with his cohorts. Hope there’s protests. > **[Trump says he will go out with police, military to patrol DC Thursday night...](https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-police-military-patrol-dc-thursday-night/story?id=124853091)** > > President Donald Trump announced that he is "going out" with police and military in Washington, D.C., on Thursday to oversee the surge in federal law enforcement ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2025, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-this-is-it-right-trump-announces-he-is-federalizing-dc-police-and-more/1021929/184 "2025-08-21T21:31:59Z")
I guess he can’t let Cosplay Kristi have all the fun. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2025, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-this-is-it-right-trump-announces-he-is-federalizing-dc-police-and-more/1021929/185 "2025-08-21T21:42:16Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > Well, he’s doing a ride along tonight in DC with his cohorts. Hope there’s protests. > > [Trump says he will go out with police, military to patrol DC Thursday night as he pushes deployments in more cities - ABC News](https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-police-military-patrol-dc-thursday-night/story?id=124853091) He is the king of performative pandering bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![mjmartin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3d9bf3/32.png) [@mjmartin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mjmartin)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2025, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-this-is-it-right-trump-announces-he-is-federalizing-dc-police-and-more/1021929/186 "2025-08-21T21:48:38Z")
Hopefully someone throws a sub at him. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2025, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-this-is-it-right-trump-announces-he-is-federalizing-dc-police-and-more/1021929/187 "2025-08-21T21:49:55Z")
The Secret Service would have to throw themselves in front of the sub. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2025, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-this-is-it-right-trump-announces-he-is-federalizing-dc-police-and-more/1021929/188 "2025-09-18T00:28:08Z")
This article is a week old. > **[National Guard morale plummets over DC deployment - Salon.com](https://www.salon.com/2025/09/10/national-guard-morale-plummets-over-dc-deployment/)** > > Internal reports reveal unease among troops, with public reaction overwhelmingly negative > Internal [National Guard](https://www.salon.com/topic/national_guard) assessments reviewed by [The Washington Post](https://www.salon.com/topic/washington_post) reveal widespread unease over President [Donald Trump’s](https://www.salon.com/topic/donald_trump) decision to deploy more than 2,300 Guard troops to Washington, D.C The documents describe the mission as “leveraging fear,” driving a “wedge between citizens and the military,” and generating “shame” among some service members and veterans. > National Guard officials tracked online sentiment and media coverage, finding 53% of reactions negative, compared to only 2% positive. “Trending videos show residents reacting with alarm and indignation,” one report noted, highlighting fears that the Guard’s presence made people feel afraid more often than safe. The findings were not intended for public release. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2025, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-this-is-it-right-trump-announces-he-is-federalizing-dc-police-and-more/1021929/189 "2025-09-18T09:34:42Z")
Wasn’t there some people in DC, or maybe it was LA, who’d play a recording of the _Star Wars_ “Imperial March” whenever the troopers were near? Any NG who realized they were cast as stormtroopers would probably have a not-comfortable reaction to that. ---
**Author:** ![abcdefghij](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/43a26b/32.png) [@abcdefghij](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abcdefghij)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2025, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-this-is-it-right-trump-announces-he-is-federalizing-dc-police-and-more/1021929/190 "2025-09-18T11:02:17Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Any NG who realized they were cast as stormtroopers would probably have a not-comfortable reaction to that. When I was in NROTC and they would have campus showings of the Star Wars films, I always argued that we should go and root for the Empire. I would say most of my shipmates did not see the humor in that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-this-is-it-right-trump-announces-he-is-federalizing-dc-police-and-more/1021929.md?page=8)