Trump Announces National Guard to New Orleans

President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that National Guard troops will deploy to New Orleans in the coming weeks to address crime concerns, adding to a federal immigration enforcement operation set to launch in the city this week. The move follows a request from Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, who sought up to 1,000 troops in September to bolster law enforcement amid personnel shortages and elevated violent crime in several cities.

Trump made the statement during a White House Cabinet meeting, without specifying the number of troops or their exact arrival date. "Gov. Landry a great guy, a great governor he's asked for help in New Orleans. And we're going to go there in a couple of weeks," Trump said. Landry, who spoke to reporters Monday, anticipated the Guard's arrival before Christmas and expressed support for the deployment. In a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Landry highlighted crime issues in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Shreveport, as well as the state's exposure to natural disasters, which he said complicates policing. He noted the additional support would aid security for events like Mardi Gras and college football bowl games.