Fact Check: "Trump threatens to send troops to any Democrat-run city."
What We Know
Recently, President Donald Trump directed federal immigration officials to prioritize deportations from Democratic-run cities, which he described as having "millions upon millions of illegal aliens" (AP News) [source-1]. In a related move, he called up 2,000 National Guard troops to quell protests in California, specifically bypassing the authority of Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat (New York Times) [source-2]. This action marked a rare use of federal powers, as it was the first time since 1965 that a president activated a state's National Guard without a request from the stateβs governor (New York Times) [source-2].
Trump's comments during a press briefing suggested that the deployment of National Guard troops was a necessary measure to maintain order in cities experiencing protests against his immigration policies. He claimed that without this deployment, cities like Los Angeles would face significant unrest (AP News) [source-1]. Furthermore, he has previously indicated a willingness to use federal troops to "get crime out of our cities," which raises concerns about the potential for military intervention in urban areas (The Guardian) [source-8].
Analysis
The claim that Trump threatens to send troops to any Democrat-run city is partially true. While he has not explicitly stated he would deploy troops to all Democrat-run cities, his recent actions and statements suggest a pattern of targeting these areas for increased federal enforcement and military presence. The directive to prioritize deportations in Democratic cities aligns with his broader strategy of using federal resources to address immigration issues in areas governed by Democrats (AP News) [source-1].
However, the context of his troop deployment is crucial. The National Guard was called up specifically in response to protests related to immigration enforcement, rather than a blanket threat to deploy troops in all Democrat-run cities. This nuance is important in understanding the scope of his intentions. Additionally, while Trump has expressed a willingness to use military force in urban settings, concrete plans for troop deployments beyond the immediate situation in California have not been publicly detailed (The Guardian) [source-8].
The reliability of the sources is generally high, with major news outlets like the Associated Press and The New York Times providing detailed reports based on official statements and actions taken by the Trump administration. However, some sources, such as the article from People's World, may carry a more partisan perspective, which could influence the interpretation of Trump's intentions (People's World) [source-5].
Conclusion
The verdict is Partially True. While Trump has indeed threatened and taken actions that suggest a willingness to deploy troops in response to protests in Democrat-run cities, the claim lacks the explicit blanket threat to send troops to any such city. His actions appear to be more focused on specific incidents rather than a widespread policy of military occupation in all Democrat-run areas.
Sources
- Trump directs ICE to prioritize deportations from Democratic-run cities ...
- Trump Is Calling Up National Guard Troops Under a Rarely ...
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