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Mississippi has deployed 200 National Guard members to Washington, D.C., to support President Donald Trump’s push to combat crime and homelessness in the nation’s capital, Republican Gov. Tate Reeves said Monday.
“Crime is out of control there, and it’s clear something must be done to combat it,” Reeves said in a statement.
“Americans deserve a safe capital city that we can all be proud of. I know the brave men and women of our National Guard will do an excellent job enhancing public safety and supporting law enforcement,” he added.
The move comes as several states respond to Trump’s call for assistance. South Carolina, West Virginia and Ohio also announced deployments to bolster federal efforts in the city. As of Monday, Mississippi’s addition marks six states announcing Guard members participating in D.C., with Louisiana and Tennessee also previously announcing involvement.
Last week, Trump signed an executive order activating 800 members of the D.C. National Guard and temporarily placing the Metropolitan Police Department under the Justice Department’s oversight. A federal judge later urged both sides to negotiate an arrangement, leading to a suspension of that direct federal control.
On Monday, Trump accused city officials of manipulating crime statistics.
“D.C. gave Fake Crime numbers in order to create a false illusion of safety,” he wrote on Truth Social.
“This is a very bad and dangerous thing to do, and they are under serious investigation for so doing! Until 4 days ago, Washington, D.C., was the most unsafe ‘city’ in the United States, and perhaps the World. Now, in just a short period of time, it is perhaps the safest, and getting better every single hour! People are flocking to D.C. again, and soon, the beautification will begin!” his post continued.
The deployments highlight the growing partnership between federal officials and state governments in Trump’s broader public safety agenda. Supporters say the additional manpower is necessary to restore order and address homelessness in the city.