- President Donald Trump announced on Twitter that the
National Guard would begin withdrawing troops from Washington, DC, on Sunday. - Approximately 5,000 troops had been deployed to DC amid Black Lives Matter
protests sparked by George Floyd's death. - In his tweet, Trump said the troops could go home because "fewer protesters showed up last night than anticipated."
- DC saw its largest demonstration since Floyd's death yet on Saturday, with thousands gathering in the city to protest police brutality.
President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that the National Guard will start withdrawing from Washington, DC, on Sunday.
The National Guard was deployed to DC in an attempt to deter demonstrators from gathering after curfew to protest the May 25 death of George Floyd.
Floyd, a black man, died after Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for several minutes.
Approximately 5,000 troops had been deployed to DC, with a mix of out-of-state and local members reporting for duty, according to CNN.
"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," Trump said in his tweet.
—Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 7, 2020
"They will be going home, but can quickly return, if needed. Far fewer protesters showed up last night than anticipated!" he added.
The city saw its largest demonstrations to date on Saturday, with thousands gathering in the city center to protest Floyd's death and police brutality.
The protests remained peaceful even after DC ended its curfew.
Trump's tweet did not specify if only the out-of-state troops would be withdrawing or if he was ordering all forces to leave.
The Guard has been deployed in several cities, but it was particularly active in DC, with troops lining the Lincoln Memorial at one point last week.
Trump had previously touted the importance of having a National Guard presence at protests, encouraging troops to "dominate the streets."
In DC, the troops had been used for security at the White House, where the president reportedly hid in a bunker during protests, as well as at monuments throughout the city.
But local government officials had taken issue with the legality of the National Guard's presence in DC over the last week, questioning Attorney General William Barr about the deployment.
"I don't think that the military should be used on the streets of American cities against Americans," DC Mayor Muriel Bowser said about the forces. "And I definitely think it shouldn't be used for a show."
- Read more:
- Thousands of protesters took to Washington, DC, for the city's largest demonstration yet over George Floyd's death
- Active-duty troops deployed to DC region start to leave
- DC attorney general questions National Guard presence
- Trump threatens 'heavily armed' military deployments to quash protests if governors and mayors do not 'establish an overwhelming law-enforcement presence'