Missouri Republican Signals He's Not On Board With Trump's Latest National Guard Threats

Rep. Mark Alford, R-Mo., appears to beryllium astatine likelihood pinch President Donald Trump erstwhile it comes to deploying nan National Guard successful definite situations.

Speaking astatine a municipality hallway successful his territory Monday, Alford said he does not deliberation nan national authorities should nonstop troops to cities other than Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles unless governors petition them.

The remark came successful nan mediate of a heated back-and-forth successful Harrisonville, wherever attendees engaged successful shouted exchanges pinch 1 different and pinch Alford, making it difficult astatine times for him to reply questions uninterrupted.

After saying he was OK pinch Trump sending nan defender into Washington and to Los Angeles earlier this twelvemonth successful consequence to protests against migration enforcement, Alford indicated location was a statement he's not comfortable crossing.

“But I do not deliberation that we should beryllium sending National Guard into different cities unless nan governor, unless nan politician [asks],” he said.

Trump is ratcheting up his threats to deploy defender members to different cities. Trump said Sunday he is considering sending troops to “clean up” Baltimore, and he has suggested he would do nan aforesaid to “straighten up” Chicago.

Democratic leaders from Illinois and Maryland person slammed Trump for his comments. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson hit backmost astatine Trump connected Monday, saying troops were not needed successful Chicago and calling Trump’s threats an effort astatine governmental intimidation.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott besides pushed backmost against Trump’s threats. Moore said he “would not beryllium open” to defender members’ being deployed successful Baltimore, adding that arsenic politician he would not authorize specified a move.

A spokesperson for Alford did not instantly respond to a petition for remark Monday nighttime astir his stance connected Trump’s threats to nonstop nan defender to Chicago and Baltimore.

Alford was first elected successful 2022 and won re-election past twelvemonth with much than 71% of nan vote. Trump endorsed him connected societal media past week.