Doha: National Guard troops in the US capital, Washington, DC, are preparing to carry weapons soon as part of a campaign to combat crime. Security sources revealed that National Guard members, whom President Donald Trump ordered to be deployed in Washington as part of an anti-crime campaign, will soon begin carrying weapons.

According to Qatar News Agency, the sources added that, under the direction of the Secretary of Defense, the personnel supporting the mission to reduce crime in the capital will soon begin their duties with their weapons. The acting commander of the National Guard in Washington retains the authority to make any necessary adjustments to the force's posture, in coordination with the Metropolitan Police and federal law enforcement partners.

President Trump described Washington as "crime-ridden" before the National Guard deployed to its streets last week, stressing that this federal campaign would later include the cities of Chicago and New York. As the troops began arriving, the US military announced that weapons were available if needed but would remain in storage.

There are currently more than 1,900 National Guard members in Washington, DC, drawn from the city itself and from Republican-led states including West Virginia, South Carolina, Ohio, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Tennessee. Republican politicians say the Democratic-majority capital suffers from high crime rates, homelessness, and financial mismanagement. However, Washington police data shows a significant decline in violent crime between 2023 and 2024.