Trump’s DC Takeover Is a Trial Run for Authoritarian Rule
Donald Trump has seized control of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department and deployed 800 National Guard troops into the nation’s capital. This is not law enforcement. This is occupation.
And Trump isn’t stopping there. He’s already moved troops into Memphis — and he’s threatening Chicago next — laying the groundwork for a coast-to-coast crackdown, using militarized force in cities across America.
A Chilling Power Grab in Broad Daylight
President Trump signed a presidential memorandum deploying the National Guard to Memphis, Tennessee, to join a task force with federal agencies like the FBI, ICE, Department of Homeland Security, and U.S. Marshals — all under the guise of fighting crime.
He’s made it clear he’s following the same model used in D.C. In the same announcement, Trump singled out Chicago as “probably next.”
Violent crime is stabilizing or declining in many of the cities he’s targeting; fear-driven rhetoric is being used to justify these expansions of power. Local leaders in Memphis and Illinois have already sounded alarms about threats to civil liberties and the lack of local consent.
Why We Can’t Wait to Act
If Trump can seize control of law enforcement in D.C., deploy troops in Memphis, and threaten Chicago—even without local consent—this sets a dangerous precedent nationally.
We’re already seeing what the playbook looks like: fear-driven messaging, paired with federal force. That tends to crush dissent, intimidate communities, and erode democratic norms.
Our Revolution Is on the Ground
Our Revolution’s DC Citizen Action Team is in the streets right now — fighting back against this authoritarian occupation.
This week, we’ll be on Capitol Hill delivering our message:
- Congress must act immediately to restore local control of DC’s police department.
- All National Guard and federal troops must be withdrawn.
- We demand oversight and accountability for every deployment and order.
We’re scaling up organizing in cities across the country to meet this moment — but we need every voice possible pushing Congress and local officials to defend democracy.
This Is Bigger Than DC
If this power grab goes unchecked here, it can spread anywhere. The precedent is being set, and the stakes are nothing less than the survival of our democratic system.
✍️ Add your name: Tell Congress to Stop Trump’s DC Occupation and defend local autonomy.
When we organize, we win. Let’s make sure this is the moment we stopped Trump’s march toward authoritarian rule.
— Our Revolution