On January 1, 2026, President Trump declared a temporary suspension of efforts to deploy National Guard troops in major cities, including Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland, Oregon. This decision comes in the wake of a recent Supreme Court ruling that restricted the president's ability to utilize military personnel for policing purposes in Chicago, a ruling that was not mentioned in his announcement.

Despite Trump's assertion that the presence of National Guard troops had contributed to a reduction in crime rates, their deployment had faced significant legal challenges, particularly in Chicago and Portland, where troops had not actively engaged with the public. The National Guard was initially deployed to Los Angeles in June 2025 in response to protests against the administration's immigration policies, despite opposition from California Governor Gavin Newsom.

In his statement on Truth Social, Trump suggested that the National Guard could return in a 'much different and stronger form' if crime rates were to rise, indicating a potential future escalation of federal military presence in urban areas. Critics of the deployment have raised concerns about the implications of militarizing law enforcement and the potential erosion of civil liberties, framing such actions as authoritarian overreach.

Governor Newsom welcomed the withdrawal of troops, describing it as a victory against what he characterized as illegal intimidation tactics. Similarly, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson expressed approval of the Supreme Court ruling, underscoring the importance of maintaining checks and balances in government authority. The ongoing tensions between state and federal authorities regarding the use of military resources for domestic law enforcement continue to highlight the complexities of governance in the current political climate.