Trump Withdraws National Guard from Chicago, LA, Portland

President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he is withdrawing National Guard troops from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland, Oregon, following a series of legal challenges that blocked their deployment. In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated the move was temporary and suggested federal forces could return if crime rates increase. "We are removing the National Guard from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland, despite the fact that CRIME has been greatly reduced by having these great Patriots in those cities, and ONLY by that fact," Trump wrote. "We will come back, perhaps in a much different and stronger form, when crime begins to soar again. Only a question of time!"

The decision comes after the U.S. Supreme Court last week refused to allow the deployment of about 300 National Guard troops to the Chicago area, a ruling that effectively halted similar efforts in the other cities. The high court's order, issued on December 23, denied the administration's request to overturn a lower court block on the Chicago deployment, marking a notable limitation on presidential authority over state National Guard units. U.S. District Judge April Perry had initially issued a temporary...