Trump Orders National Guard To Start Withdrawing From DC

WASHINGTON, DC — President Donald Trump tweeted Sunday that he has ordered the National Guard to begin withdrawing from Washington, D.C.

I have just given an order for our National Guard to start the process of withdrawing from Washington, D.C., now that everything is under perfect control. They will be going home, but can quickly return, if needed. Far fewer protesters showed up last night than anticipated!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 7, 2020

Trump's tweet comes a day after thousands of peaceful demonstrators poured into the streets of Washington, D.C. to protest police brutality and racial inequality.

The presence of federal law enforcement and out-of-state military personnel in the nation's capital has been a point of contention between Trump and Mayor Muriel Bowser, who said she doesn't "want any armed military ... on D.C. streets."

Bowser said she has only requested the help of the D.C. National Guard to assist the Metropolitan Police Department with traffic. However, members of the U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Park Police, the FBI, as well as other federal military assets, have been acting in the District without her request and under the direction of U.S. Attorney General William Barr.

Protests erupted across the country after a video surfaced on Memorial Day that showed George Floyd, a handcuffed black man, pleading for air as a white Minneapolis cop knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes. The officer, identified as Derek Chauvin, was later fired from his job and charged with third-degree murder.

Thousands of people are expected to return to the nation's capital Sunday for the 10th day of protests.

Peaceful demonstrations will take place across the city, including in:

• Wards 7 and 8 — 2 p.m.
• Dupont Circle — 3 p.m.
• St. Patrick's Episcopal Church — 4 p.m.
• Columbia Heights — 4:30 p.m.