Trump Activated the National Guard in D.C. It’s Still Unclear What It’s Doing.

As guard members patrol the National Mall, the White House’s comments about the National Guard’s role have raised questions around its jurisdiction.

DC: National Guard Presence in Washington, DC
Annabelle Gordon/Sipa USA via AP

On Thursday afternoon, day four of President Donald Trump’s activation of the National Guard and federalization of the Washington, D.C., police force, multiple units of the National Guard were coordinating shifts around the Washington Monument and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial.

“You think I want to be doing this shit, huh?” a guard soldier, who wore a first sergeant’s rank on his uniform, said to his soldiers.

“Then join the Reserve,” a cyclist shouted as he passed by, overhearing the guard. “You don’t have to do this in the Reserve.”