As Trump hints at new Nat’l. Guard deployment, lawmakers differ on troops in OH

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As the emergency declaration behind the federal takeover of Washington, D.C. expires Sept. 10, President Donald Trump said he could soon send troops to another city.

Ohio lawmakers have differing views on whether the next city should be in Ohio.

Though the 30-day window for the emergency declaration is over, National Guard troops will remain posted in the capital, after Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said the city would coordinate with federal law enforcement indefinitely.

Some Ohio Republicans said they would welcome expanding the federal presence to Democrat-run cities such as Cleveland and Cincinnati.

Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, cited a brawl in downtown Cincinnati in July as evidence that crime is out of control.

“Right as President Trump was mobilizing the National Guard for Washington, D.C., we were confronting a challenge in Cincinnati that isn’t entirely different than what Washington, D.C., was confronting. And you have some of the same things you have out of control, gangs of young people roaming the streets riding dirt bikes and ATVs,” said Davidson. “There’s a ‘do not pursue’ policy. They’re doing these things in Cincinnati and in D.C., and they’re committing a lot of crimes, so we really need to be looking at our policies and the same kinds of things.”

Cincinnati city officials and Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on Tuesday announced an official agreement to beef up Cincinnati law enforcement efforts with Ohio State Highway Patrol resources. A city-state memorandum of understanding will allow Cincinnati Police and the Highway Patrol to conduct joint enforcement operations up to twice per month, and provide teams to investigate “liquor establishments” known for drug trafficking and drug and other crimes.

“It’s going after the repeat violent offenders. It’s just that simple. Get the repeat violent offenders, those people who have guns, who aren’t supposed to have guns. Get them the hell out of Cincinnati,” DeWine said.

At a press conference announcing the agreement, Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval emphasized the city wanted to work with civilian law enforcement partners, not National Guard soldiers.

“Not only would it be a massive waste of resources, but it would ultimately make our city less safe,” said Pureval.

Rep. Greg Landsman, D-Ohio, echoed a similar sentiment, saying coordination is necessary for any deployment.

“I think that if there are additional resources, that’s great. But again, you want to do it in partnership with local law enforcement,” Landsman said. “And if they do that outside of it, then you have chaos. And chaos makes people less safe.”

Trump said he would announce the next city for a National Guard deployment this week to a state and city that wants it, seemingly taking off the table his weeks-long threat to send soldiers to Chicago.