With Election Day approaching, former advisers to Donald Trump have issued warnings about his history of pushing for military intervention in domestic matters, urging Americans to consider the potential implications of his return to the presidency. During nationwide protests following George Floyd's death in June 2020, Trump reportedly pressed for 10,000 troops to deploy to Washington, D.C., aiming to prevent any perception of weakness.
Sources told The Washington Post that the number seemed arbitrary but underscored Trump's intent to project authority amid civil unrest. Trump's directive led Pentagon officials to propose alternatives to deploying active-duty soldiers. They suggested supplementing federal police with National Guard troops and deploying a limited number of soldiers from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment and the 82nd Airborne Division. Ultimately, active-duty soldiers were stationed near Washington but did not enter the city, as Trump refrained from issuing a final order. One source told, "He wanted to do it. He was suggestive of it," adding, "But he knows that if he gives the order, he owns it."
