DC residents and tourists to awaken a “significant” military presence in the mall, says Source

President Donald Trump’s plan to address the crime in Washington, DC, demands the deployment of federalized national guard troops throughout the National Shopping Center from night to Thursday morning, according to a person familiar with the effort.

The idea is that residents and tourists would awaken in view of an important military presence, the person said.

The deployment of troops along a relatively safe and quiet section of Washington, DC, known by museums, monuments and sellers of hot dogs that serve tourists, is extraordinary.

The Law grants a president to act to the National Guard to protect federal personnel and property, as in the case of the inauguration or the riots of January 6, 2021. A president also has the power to mobilize troops in times of extraordinary crisis as was done in 1992 during the disturbances of Los Angeles.

But it was not clear what the military force show on Thursday in the American soil would achieve, apart from an exhibition in the midst of tourists and school groups on summer holidays.

Army officials said their mission was to help the application of the law with logistics support, transport and administration tasks, in addition to being visible throughout the mall.

“That is part of our task: go to national monuments and be present,” said Colonel Dave Butler, army spokesman, ABC News.

A White House official told journalists on Wednesday to expect a “significant” presence on the ground on Wednesday night.

According to the person familiar with the plan, the presence of guard troops would begin to increase during the night and continue until Thursday.

Trump announced on Monday that he planned to mobilize 800 Troops from the National Guard to address what he considered the crime “out of control” in the city, as well as assume control of the police department.

The authorities said that a joint work force, directed by Army Colonel Larry Doane, will administer the operation.

Although the working group is expected to include 800 activated members of the National Guard, DC residents will not see so many in the streets.

The troops will work in shifts of 100 to 200 troops at the same time, and some of them will be assigned to administrative or logistics roles in support of the application of the local law.

The task force that supervises the activated guard troops will operate similarly to how the DC Guard has handled inaugurations or responding to crises, as it did during the riots of January 6. The National Parks Service will play a considerable role due to its supervision of the National Shopping Center, authorities said.