National Guard units patrolling the US capital at the direction of President Donald Trump have begun carrying firearms, marking a significant escalation in his military deployment. This move follows a directive issued late last week by his defence secretary.
An unnamed Defense Department official confirmed that some units on specific missions would be armed, either with handguns or rifles. The official stressed that all units carrying firearms have received training and operate under stringent rules for the use of force. An Associated Press photographer observed members of the South Carolina National Guard outside Union Station on Sunday, equipped with holstered handguns.
