Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth paid an unannounced visit to National Guard troops stationed at Washington, D.C.’s Union Station on 20 August. The guardsmen were deployed last week as part of President Donald Trump’s “D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force,” a federal effort aimed at curbing violent crime in the capital. Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller accompanied the two officials. Inside a Shake Shack outlet at the rail hub, Vance thanked the soldiers for “busting your ass all day,” joking that handing them a hamburger was “not a fair trade.” The officials shook hands and posed for photos before touring the concourse. The visit drew a vocal response from onlookers. Dozens of protesters chanted “Free D.C.” and booed as the delegation moved through the station, but no clashes with security were reported. The vice president and defense secretary departed after roughly 40 minutes, leaving National Guard operations in place.