Trump Has Not Ruled Out Invoking Insurrection Act to Deploy National Guard, Vance Says

Politics|Trump Has Not Ruled Out Invoking Insurrection Act to Deploy National Guard, Vance Says

Vice President JD Vance said on Sunday President Trump was “looking at all of his options" to deploy the National Guard in major cities, including invoking the Insurrection Act of 1807, which grants the president emergency powers to deploy troops on U.S. soil during major unrest.

In an interview on NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” Mr. Vance said Mr. Trump “has not felt he needed to” invoke the Insurrection Act “right now,” but he has not ruled it out.

Last week, Mr. Trump said he saw the Insurrection Act as “a way to get around” recent court rulings blocking his efforts to deploy the guard to fight crime and put down protests against the government’s crackdown on undocumented immigrants.

Generally speaking, the Insurrection Act gives the president the power to send military forces to states to quell widespread public unrest and to support civilian law enforcement agencies. Mr. Vance, echoing the president’s arguments, claimed on NBC News that crime was “out of control” in major cities, pointing to violent attacks against immigration officers.

In the interview, Mr. Vance also addressed the cease-fire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas, brokered by Mr. Trump, who was scheduled to travel to Israel on Sunday to celebrate the breakthrough.

The vice president refuted reports that 200 American troops would be sent to the Middle East to monitor the implementation of the cease-fire deal in Gaza.He said that the U.S. Central Command, which already has American troops stationed in that part of the world, would “monitor the terms of the cease-fire” and “ensure that the humanitarian aid is flowing.”