Morrisey orders National Guard to DC in support of Trump takeover; Dems say it’s ‘political theater’

The governor said he’ll send 300 to 400 Guard troops to the nation’s capital.

 Members of the National Guard walk on the National Mall on August 14, 2025 in Washington, D.C. on. Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025. President Donald Trump announced plans to deploy federal officers and the National Guard to the District in order to place the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department under federal control and assist in crime prevention in the nation’s capital. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker | Getty Images)

Gov. Patrick Morrisey is sending the West Virginia National Guard to Washington, D.C., to bolster the Trump administration’s policing of the nation’s capital through a federal crackdown. 

Morrisey announced the move over the weekend, saying 300 to 400 skilled personnel would be sent to Washington along with “mission-essential equipment” to support the D.C. National Guard.

President Donald Trump has declared a “public safety emergency” in Washington, D.C.,  mobilizing the local National Guard to “take back” the capital from what he described as violent criminals. Washington’s elected officials have objected to the president’s claims about the city’s crime. 

Morrisey said he was providing the West Virginia National Guard at the request of the Trump administration. Four other Republican-led states, including Ohio, have now sent guard members to Washington, D.C. in support of the president.

“West Virginia is proud to stand with President Trump in his effort to restore pride and beauty to our nation’s capital,” Morrisey said in a news release. “The men and women of our National Guard represent the best of our state, and this mission reflects our shared commitment to a strong and secure America.” 

Morrisey’s office said the mission will be funded at the federal level. 

West Virginia Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Jim Seward said the National Guard is an “invaluable partner in the important undertaking” of addressing crime in the nation’s capital. 

Josh Holstein, chair of the West Virginia Republican Party, said Morrisey “made the right call” by sending guard troops to Washington, D.C.

“West Virginians overwhelmingly support President Trump and are proud of his effort to restore law and order to our nation’s capital,” Holstein said. “This modest deployment will not diminish important work in our state, but when our neighbors need help, West Virginia is always willing to step up.” 

State Democratic Party Chair Mike Pushkin said the move was “political theater” under Morrisey close allyship with Trump.

“We have enormous respect for the men and women of the West Virginia National Guard, but it’s shameful that Morrisey is making them complicit in Trump’s latest political stunt,” Pushkin said, adding that he believed that the Trump’s initiative was a distraction from the president’s “broken pledge to release the [Jeffrey] Epstein files.”

“The real tragedy here is that instead of helping their neighbors recover from devastating floods at home — our guard members are being shipped off to serve as props in the Trump — Morrisey political theater.”

Morrisey doesn’t need the Legislature’s approval to direct the National Guard to the nation’s capital.

A spokesperson for House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay, said he was unable to comment on the directive by deadline due to his schedule. Senate President Randy Smith, R-Preston, didn’t return a request for comment.

House Minority Leader Sean Hornbuckle, D-Cabell, echoed Pushkin’s comments, calling the move “highly irresponsible” while West Virginia was still recovering from deadly flooding in the Wheeling Area, which the National Guard has assisted with, and facing other pressing issues like public education and road repairs. 

“This is a continuation of campaign theatrics,” Hornbuckle said. “There’s no true governance here, and we desperately need to focus our attention on matters that are affecting West Virginians today.”

Last week, Morrisey announced West Virginia National Guard members along with law enforcement would expand immigration enforcement operations in the state, partnering with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to go through a specialized training program. Seward said 175 Guard members would join the program, which gives officers authority to carry out certain ICE functions.

This article was originally published by Real WV. Donate Here.