Trump orders National Guard to begin withdrawal from DC

President Trump said Sunday that he ordered the National Guard to begin withdrawing from Washington, D.C., now that “everything is under perfect control” after protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody. 

“I have just given an order for our National Guard to start the process of withdrawing from Washington, D.C., now that everything is under perfect control. They will be going home, but can quickly return, if needed,” Trump tweeted. 

“Far fewer protesters showed up last night than anticipated!” Trump added. 

I have just given an order for our National Guard to start the process of withdrawing from Washington, D.C., now that everything is under perfect control. They will be going home, but can quickly return, if needed. Far fewer protesters showed up last night than anticipated!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 7, 2020

His Sunday morning announcement followed a tweet Saturday night thanking the National Guard, Secret Service and D.C. police for doing a “fantastic job” responding to the protests. He said there was a “much smaller crowd” in the District “than anticipated.”

Much smaller crowd in D.C. than anticipated. National Guard, Secret Service, and D.C. Police have been doing a fantastic job. Thank you!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 7, 2020

The commander of the D.C. National Guard told CNN on Saturday that thousands of troops called in from other states in response to the protests could begin leaving the nation’s capital as early as Monday. 

D.C Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) sent a letter to Trump Friday requesting he withdraw all “extraordinary federal law enforcement and military presence,” noting that she had ended the state of emergency in the Distinct related to the demonstrations. 

In her letter, Bowser noted that the protests had been peaceful and that the police did not make a “single arrest” during the previous two nights.