On September 3, 2025, President Donald Trump ignited a fresh round of political debate by suggesting that the National Guard could soon be deployed to New Orleans to combat crime. This proposal, floated during an Oval Office meeting with Polish President Karol Nawrocki, marked the latest in a series of high-profile interventions by Trump in cities led by Democratic officials. The former president has already sent federal agents and National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., and expressed his intention to do the same in Chicago and Baltimore—moves that have drawn both praise and fierce criticism across the political spectrum.
"Do we go to Chicago? Do we go to a place like New Orleans, where we have a great governor, Jeff Landry, who wants us to come in and straighten out a very nice section of this country that’s become quite, you know, quite tough, quite bad?" Trump mused to reporters, according to the Associated Press. He then added, "We’ll straighten that out in about two weeks. It’ll take us two weeks, easier than D.C."
New Orleans, a predominantly Democratic city in Republican-controlled Louisiana, has become the latest flashpoint in the national conversation about crime, policing, and federal intervention. Trump’s remarks quickly drew a response from Governor Jeff Landry, who embraced the idea on social media: "We will take President @realDonaldTrump’s help from New Orleans to Shreveport!"
Yet, the notion of deploying the National Guard did not land smoothly with local leaders. City Council President Helena Moreno, a Democrat and mayoral hopeful, called Trump’s proposal "an attack on certain cities" and accused him of "scare tactics and politicizing public safety." In a statement reported by Fox News, Moreno argued, "We have had an unprecedented reduction in crime and violence in New Orleans… That clearly shows that this is about scare tactics and public safety. Ultimately leading to the misuse of public funds and resources to attempt to score political points."
Other city officials echoed Moreno’s concerns. Councilmember Jean-Paul Morrell dismissed the plan as "ridiculous," asserting, "It is ridiculous to consider sending the National Guard into another American city that hasn’t asked for it. Guardsmen are not trained law enforcement. They can’t solve crimes, they can’t interview witnesses and they aren’t trained to constitutionally police." Morrell emphasized that the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) "is doing a great job with the existing resources they have. Marching troops into New Orleans is an unnecessary show of force in effort to create a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist."
City Councilmember Oliver Thomas, also a mayoral candidate, told the AP that "crime is down in New Orleans," adding, "That would seem to be very political or a major overreaction!"
Indeed, data from the Metropolitan Crime Commission supports the claim that violent crime in New Orleans has decreased since 2022. According to the group’s president, Rafael Goyeneche, homicides are down about 14% in 2025 and over 50% in the last three years. However, Goyeneche also cautioned that New Orleans still has an “unacceptably high crime rate” per capita and remains among the top five U.S. cities for homicides. "Our crime problem is in other parts of town," he told WVUE, suggesting that if the National Guard is brought in, their presence should be coordinated with NOPD and Louisiana State Police strategies.
Goyeneche clarified that the National Guard, if deployed, would serve mainly as a visual deterrent rather than as front-line law enforcement. "They’re not going to be making arrests, they’ll be able to detain people and call police," he explained. "They’re not going to investigate the crimes that have already been perpetrated. That will be the responsibility of NOPD and State Police. What they can do is be a visual deterrent." He added that while the Guard’s presence would likely be concentrated in the French Quarter, the city’s crime issues are more pronounced elsewhere.
Retired Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré, a respected Louisiana figure, weighed in by saying that if the National Guard is called up, it should be the Louisiana National Guard. "By and large, they do their job and they’re respectful of the people. They’re part of our culture and the state," he told WVUE. Honoré did not advocate for the mission but stressed its legality and the importance of cultural ties.
Despite local pushback, Trump’s plan has found allies in state politics. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill supported the President’s offer, stating, "If your gut reaction is to reject the President’s offer for assistance without condition, perhaps you’re the problem - not him." House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, whose district includes the suburbs outside New Orleans, praised Trump’s efforts, writing, "We should all be in favor of increased safety for our citizens and lower crime."
The City of New Orleans and the NOPD issued a joint statement underscoring the importance of federal and state partnerships. "This collaborative approach has been instrumental in our ongoing success in reducing crime," the statement read. "Thanks to the dedicated efforts of the women and men of the NOPD, the strategic use of advanced technology, and a steadfast commitment to constitutional policing, strong public safety partnerships have also played a critical role in driving and sustaining this downward trend in crime." The statement reaffirmed the city’s commitment to sustaining this momentum and ensuring every neighborhood benefits from these efforts.
Nationally, Trump’s law-and-order approach has been controversial. In Washington, D.C., where he exercised unique federal powers to take over the local police force for up to 30 days, the White House claimed more than 1,760 arrests since the federal mobilization began on August 7, 2025. Mayor Muriel Bowser acknowledged that the deployment had reduced violent crime but argued that "similar results could have been achieved simply by having more city police officers in service." She insisted, "We don’t need a presidential emergency."
In Chicago and Baltimore, Democratic leaders have remained firmly opposed to the idea of military intervention. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson have repeatedly stated that the city does not need or want the National Guard, while Baltimore’s Mayor Brandon Scott and Maryland Governor Wes Moore have voiced similar objections.
Amid this swirl of political maneuvering, New Orleans is also facing its own challenges. Mayor LaToya Cantrell was indicted last month on federal fraud charges and is set to be arraigned in the coming weeks, adding another layer of complexity to the city’s political landscape.
For now, there is no set timetable for when—or if—the National Guard might be deployed in New Orleans. As the debate continues, both supporters and critics are watching closely, each side convinced that the stakes for public safety, local autonomy, and political precedent couldn’t be higher.
