National Guard units deployed in Washington, DC, under President Donald Trump’s anti-crime push have begun carrying firearms, marking a visible escalation in the military presence on the capital’s streets.A spokesperson for the Joint Task Force confirmed on Sunday that service members had started carrying their sidearms, following a directive from defence secretary Pete Hegseth issued late last week. According to the New York Times, Guard members from South Carolina were seen near Union Station with holstered handguns. A CNN reporter separately observed troops with long guns patrolling The Wharf, a busy waterfront district.Maj Michael A Maxwell of the National Guard task force said troops would use force “only as a last resort and solely in response to an imminent threat of death or serious bodily harm”, as quoted by The New York Times. He stressed that all deployed members had been trained under strict rules of engagement.As per news agency AP, a defence department official explained that only certain units on particular missions would be armed, some with rifles, others with handguns. Those assigned to administrative or transport duties would likely remain unarmed.As per the New York Times, more than 2,200 Guard personnel are currently operating in Washington, with contributions from Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia and around 900 members from DC itself. Their tasks range from supporting local police at transit stops to participating in “community restoration” projects, Maxwell said.The deployment, ordered by Trump two weeks ago, comes amid his wider federal crackdown on crime and homelessness. However, critics say the operation has so far been vague in purpose, with much of the effort directed at detaining undocumented immigrants rather than addressing violent crime.Outside Union Station on Sunday, protesters confronted armed guards. One demonstrator waved a “Free DC” placard while another rang a cowbell. Abbey Schneider, a visitor who once lived in the city, was cited by the New York Times as saying, “I have a visceral reaction to it. I feel it is unnecessary and a little bit scary. It feels like an escalation.”Trump has signalled that other Democratic-led cities may be next. He has publicly threatened to send troops to Chicago, New York and Baltimore, citing crime concerns. Responding to criticism from Maryland’s Democratic Governor Wes Moore, Trump posted on Truth Social that he would not hesitate to “send in the troops” if required, comparing the situation to his earlier deployment in Los Angeles.Moore rejected the claims, saying violent crime in Baltimore has fallen sharply. “The president is spending all of his time talking about me,” he said on CBS’s Face the Nation. “I’m spending my time talking about the people I serve.”Chicago’s Democratic Mayor Brandon Johnson vowed legal action if federal troops were sent, saying, “We’re not going to surrender our humanity to this tyrant.” Illinois Governor JB Pritzker also accused Trump of trying to “manufacture a crisis” for political gain.