Troops on the Ground

September 8, 2025

Armed Military Personnel on US Streets

LA was a test, and we've now crossed the Rubicon. When the federal government deploys troops on US soil, regardless of the stated reason, it is a break-glass moment. Trump has since deployed additional troops in DC, despite the objections of the residents there, and threatened to deploy them in other US cities such as Chicago and Baltimore. How long before Philadelphia is on the list? Congress must begin to address this authoritarian overreach that is desensitizing Americans to seeing active military patrolling their streets. The one thing we can be sure of from the statistics is this is not about crime. While the history of the Posse Comitatus Act shows its racist origin, it is currently the law of the land and prevents the president from deploying the military or National Guard to American states without the consent of their governors.

The president cannot have his own police force! There is no parallel in history where this goes well or is not a precursor to something darker. We're already hearing warnings from prominent Democrats that Trump will likely use emergency powers to try and take control of elections. When you also consider the fact that he has ramped up his attacks on mail-in ballots and voting machines, it isn't hard to imagine where this becomes the pretext for an authoritarian power grab with his nationalized police force as the tip of the spear. Democrats and well-meaning Republicans in Congress need to act, up to and including impeaching Trump for breaking the law and his oath! If this Congress refuses to do it, then we need to elect new representatives that will!

--Karl