The places where Trump has sent troops in DC so far tell part of the story, writes Helene Cooper. Most have been seen near the National Mall, large monuments and other tourist-heavy areas rather than where the most violent crime happens. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/19/u...
Very predictable, really. Trump just cares about the illusion, never the reality. Everything is a TV show to him. Superficial, fake, and temporary.
If the goal was to stop violent crimes, he would send them to Tennessee. Which U.S. Cities Are the Most Dangerous? | Security.org share.google/aO8jqdOiXEDQ...
I remember when I was NYC in Jan. after 911. There were no troops on the street with AR's. I was in Paris in 2011, and I was little jarred because they had 4 troops guarding the Louvre. I talked to them got pics, but it was still unsettling to me as an American. Now? I'm more than "unsettled."
That’s because it’s all about performative showboating. As is typical with the GOP, all hat and no cattle.
They are there to protect Trump and Trump only.
Why
Glad the Corporate Media is catching up (late) to Trump’s “Epstein Diversion” stunt. If you see troops with the Capitol or the Washington Monument in the background, it’s a troop-tourist, Epstein Diversion show picture. They aren’t where the crime is.
Still incapable of plain English Peter? The sane-washing, white washing and both-sidesing it are going well for you ($$$) but not so well in creating an informed population. (“Tell part of the story”) So what story would that be Peter? Won’t be hearing it from the NYT whatever it is.
That's what I've been saying! Let's see them in SE DC where residents have been calling for more Police presence!
Or NE
All about appearances All hat ( and mask) no cowboy, as the saying goes
Send in the clowns 🤡 There ought to be clowns 🤡, Don't bother, they're here. 🎶
Because it is not about crime. It is about intimidation and a show of force.
Surely you’re not suggesting that deploying the National Guard is performative fascist nonsense? I’m aghast.
The National Mall would be the most likely site of any large future protests…
Not exactly true…U Street and 14th Street and DuPont Circle are hardly large monuments areas. These are where the locals live and go out. NYT are you justify this to keep tourists safe? This is local harassment.
Baker will never stop sucking. I don’t understand why this is on my TL.
All I know is that the national guard the other states are sending is stupid because its performative. You mean to tell me that the governor of Louisiana couldn't use the national guard in his own state to deal with his own crime issues, if crime was so important? Give me a break.
Participating in Trump’s make believe bs makes you complicit in the maga fascist take over of America.
Because 1) it's always reality TV for the regime, and 2) those small dick energy militia men are scared shitless of going into the real hot spots.
It’s all about the optics.
All performance … and Trump protection
Guarding the ice cream trucks makes a lot of sense, America 🤠
I hope someone really decides to fight back.
Owning the libs, I would love for someone to track Republican vacationing to blue states and national parks and shame them !! when will the chamber of commerce and businesses push back?
They are pussies and it’s all for show, huge waste of money
You’re a clown
it is a war on the local economy
Because it is all a show
They don’t want to go where the true crime is happening, those places are scary for mediocre middle aged white men
what is true crime
They're sightseeing on the taxpayer dime. Just like Puppy Killer Barbie!
Expensive little vaca courtesy of the American taxpayer.
Where the TV cameras are located
Who is paying for all of this - DOD or the States? Where are all of these troops staying? What is the cost of this operation? What is the name of the operation? Will troops get mission patches?
There are very few photo ops in Brentwood, Anacostia, the U Street Corridor.
bsky.app/profile/kris...
It's political theater for the mouth breathing cult.
Set dressing.
That’s because all of it is performative. Feeding of the propaganda machine. There is no legitimate reason for them to be there.
Just like they are rounding up the murders and gang members in LA? Wholly unsurprising.
Performing policing 🎪🎪🎪
Gee. Wonder why tourism is down and DC businesses are feeling the brunt of it? 🤡💩 🙄
Why look for trouble? Signal or noise? What do u recommend?
What tourists?
Almost as if the rationale about fighting crime was a lie
They are cowards- wearing masks, hiding their faces, patrolling the tourist areas instead of where a police presence would make a positive difference. Let's see them in Southeast and Northeast DC.
bsky.app/profile/iwil...
In my opinion, it's all because of his 34 Federal counts, his greedy murderous lust for GAZA and the Frickin' Epstein Files! He is planning to stay in the Whitehouse until he's carried out feet up! Just ⚖️ sayin' 👈🏼
All areas where future marches to DC and protests are likely to occur. This is not hard to see.
The Stunt continues.
Carnival Barkers and grifters are all about illusion and perception. Ordinary taxpaying Americans are being manipulated by distraction and quietly fleeced.
sounds like a vacation free for the troops
All is a fascist show for donOLD before he dies
Not in high crime areas because he is a poser.
I bet the summer tourists are not comfortable walking through the military-occupied Capitol City, with heavily armed, masked men walking around looking for brown or black people first, or protesters to stalk and violently attack and kidnap.
It’s all performative BS.
Is he planning some unlawful project that he wants the troops there to protect him? What’s he up to?
It takes more than a gun and a vest to be a policeman. If these guys really had to try and stop a crime, who knows what would happen.
Devil's Advocate: I remember there being a lot of discussion in 2020 about how they were being intentionally sent to federal property (courthouses) where there was a far stronger case for authority to deploy than actually patrolling the streets. Motte and bailey should it go to court.
The corner checkpoints and clearing out homeless encampments aren't nearly as iffy, but it's possible SOMEONE on the chain of command still sees more light than heat puts them on a better footing (plus actually doing hard law enforcement risks a PR debacle when there is Guardsman involved shooting.)
Stunt c*nts
He seems to not know that NIMBY America really does not like to see any of this shit. They want the illusion of safety not the illusion of war.
So in locations where Trump can easily see them...?
An employee of DOGE is beaten up by teenagers at 3am and the National Guard is deployed to DC without a hassle. On 1/6/21, Capitol Police were being beaten by an angry mob while trying to defend the building and members of Congress (plus the VP) and no help was sent. Do I have that right?
Surely you wouldn’t be suggesting that if we hire a TV star president, then he hires TV reporters to fill his administration, add in a rhinestone cowgirl for Secretary of Homeland Security we might get a miniseries rather than real leadership?
Wonder how they feel, arresting ice cream shoppers? Season 5, episode whatever, of the dumbest presidency in history.
The criminals could actually hurt one of these phony soldiers if they went into the hood. I would not feel sympathy. These wanna be soldiers are willfully playing along and not just following orders.
Outreach on unlawful orders to troops deployed here in DC may well keep a tragedy from Trump's occupation at bay. open.substack.com/pub/erichens...
He is all show no substance.
Methinks their idea of violent crime is holding them accountable for their fraud
Gee, almost like this is a dual-purpose bullshit publicity stunt and a way to desensitize people to seeing troops in the streets rather than a legitimate crime prevention effort - who would have thought!
Cheap politcal theater.
The last thing right now he wants is an accidental shooting. Maybe next year on that
The same thing they did in LA.