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New Orleans Democrats have rejected President Donald Trump’s idea of deploying National Guard troops to the city to address crime, labeling it as “scare tactics and politicizing public safety.” This response followed Trump’s comments at the Oval Office on Wednesday about deciding where to send National Guard resources next.
Trump questioned, “Do we go to Chicago, or 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 tough, quite bad,” adding that, “We will straighten that out in about two weeks. Easier than D.C.”
Republican Governor Jeff Landry seemed receptive to Trump’s proposal, tweeting, “We will take President Donald Trump’s help from New Orleans to Shreveport!”
Caption: Police and military personnel are seen near the French Quarter before Super Bowl LIX in February 2025 in New Orleans, La. (Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
U.S. Rep. Troy Carter, a Democrat whose district includes New Orleans, called Trump’s comments a “political stunt.”
A spokesperson from New Orleans responded negatively to the militarization of the city, stating, “Militarizing the streets of New Orleans is not a solution. Period.” He expressed willingness to collaborate with the President on providing federal resources for police recruitment, better district attorney funding, Orleans Parish Prison infrastructure improvement, and backing programs Trump has previously cut, which address the root causes of crime like systemic poverty.
The City of New Orleans and the New Orleans Police Department also released a joint statement Wednesday saying, “We have consistently worked with our federal partners, including collaborations with the Louisiana State Police.”
“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.”
A New Orleans police vehicle blocks the entrance to Bourbon Street, near the site where people were killed by a man driving a truck in an attack during New Year’s celebrations, in New Orleans, La., on Jan. 2, 2025. (Reuters/Octavio Jones)
“Our federal and state partnerships have played a significant role in ensuring public safety, particularly during special events for a world-class city,” the statement added. “The City of New Orleans and NOPD remain committed to sustaining this momentum, ensuring that every neighborhood continues to feel the impact of these combined efforts.”
