Some National Guard units deployed in Washington, D.C., have begun carrying firearms as part of an escalation in military deployment ordered by President Donald Trump. This move follows a directive issued by the Defense Secretary late last week and is part of Trump's broader crackdown on crime in the capital. Officials confirmed that the armed patrols represent a shift in the National Guard's role while patrolling the streets of Washington. The deployment and arming of National Guard troops come amid Trump's threats to extend similar military deployments to additional cities.