Think Tank Defends National Guard Report Amid Trump Lawsuit Threat
Are National Guard deployments a costly failure or proof that a tough approach stops crime?
Above: Members of the U.S. National Guard patrol near the Washington Monument on the National Mall on Aug. 6. Image credit: Kevin Carter/Getty Images
The Spin
Left narrative
National Guard troop deployments cost taxpayers over $1.7 billion and show zero measurable effect. Cities like Los Angeles and Washington were already seeing historic crime drops before troops showed up. Threatening lawsuits against researchers instead of releasing better data proves this crackdown was about power, not public safety.
Right narrative
Homicides in Washington have dropped nearly 50% since National Guard troops arrived, proving the deployments work exactly as intended. Meanwhile, groups on the left keep pushing to abolish police and federal prisons, showing which side actually wants safer streets. Voters can plainly see one approach cuts crime while the other protects criminals.
