Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents patrol the National Mall, Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Washington.

People protest against President Donald Trump's use of federal law enforcement and National Guard troops in the city during a rally along the U street corridor in northwest Washington, Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025.

Rev. Al Sharpton delivers a sermon at Howard University's Cramton Auditorium, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025, in Washington, to announce a national drive in support of District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser, as President Donald Trump's administration continues it's use of federal law enforcement and National Guard troops in the city.

Rev. Al Sharpton delivers a sermon at Howard University's Cramton Auditorium, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025, in Washington, to announce a national drive in support of District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser, as President Donald Trump's administration continues it's use of federal law enforcement and National Guard troops in the city.

Rev. Al Sharpton delivers a sermon as Rev. Bernard L. Richardson listens at Howard University's Cramton Auditorium, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025, in Washington, to announce a national drive in support of District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser, as President Donald Trump's administration continues it's use of federal law enforcement and National Guard troops in the city.

Rev. Al Sharpton delivers a sermon at Howard University's Cramton Auditorium, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025, in Washington, to announce a national drive in support of District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser, as President Donald Trump's administration continues it's use of federal law enforcement and National Guard troops in the city.

A demonstrator protests next to members of the South Carolina National Guard monitoring the area near Union Station, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025, in Washington.

Armed members of the South Carolina National Guard are positioned outside of Union Station in Washington, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025.

Armed members of the South Carolina National Guard talk with a man while positioned outside of Union Station in Washington, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025.

Armed members of the South Carolina National Guard are positioned outside of Union Station in Washington, Sunday.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Some National Guard units patrolling the nation’s capital at the direction of President Donald Trump have started carrying firearms, an escalation of his military deployment that makes good on a directive issued late last week by his defense secretary.

A Defense Department official who was not authorized to speak publicly said some units on certain missions would be armed — some with handguns and others with rifles. The spokesperson said that all units with firearms have been trained and are operating under strict rules for use of force.

An Associated Press photographer on Sunday saw members of the South Carolina National Guard outside Union Station with holstered handguns.

A statement from the joint task force that has taken over policing in the nation’s capital said units began carrying their service weapons on Sunday and that the military’s rules say force should be used “only as a last resort and solely in response to an imminent threat of death or serious bodily harm.” It said the force is committed to protecting “the safety and wellbeing” of Washington’s residents.

The development in Trump’s extraordinary effort to override the law enforcement authority of state and local governments comes as he is considering expanding the deployments to other Democratic-led cities, including Baltimore, Chicago and New York.

Earlier Sunday, the president threatened to expand his military deployments to more Democratic-led cities, responding to an offer by Maryland’s governor to join him in a tour of Baltimore by saying he might instead “send in the ‘troops.’” He earlier said he was considering deploying troops to Chicago and New York.

Thousands of National Guard and federal law enforcement officers are now patrolling the district’s streets, drawing sporadic protests from local residents.

Trump made the threat to Baltimore in a spat with Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, a Democrat who has criticized Trump’s unprecedented flex of federal power aimed at combatting crime and homelessness in Washington. Moore last week invited Trump to visit his state to discuss public safety and walk the streets.

In a Truth Social post on Sunday, Trump said Moore asked “in a rather........

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