National Guard presence divides DC residents a year later

One year after President Donald Trump enraged liberals by deploying National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., their presence has become a familiar, and in some unexpected corners, celebrated reality. Self-described locals and visitors gave mixed reactions to the troops’ continued deployment in comments on Monday to the Washington Examiner.

Trump’s deployment initially unified left-wing activists around expressing their outrage through “Free DC” rallies and routine noise demonstrations with pots and pans. Democrats in Congress called the move “authoritarian” or dictator-like. Many who spoke to the Washington Examiner on the eve of the anniversary, however, did not share that anger despite some continuing to disapprove of the deployment.