President Donald Trump has just yanked National Guard troops from three major Democratic cities in a move that’s got everyone talking.

In a stunning turn of events, Trump has withdrawn National Guard forces from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland after a Supreme Court ruling dealt a rare blow to his administration’s deployment strategy.

Let’s rewind to earlier this year when Trump sent these troops into urban hot zones, primarily to shield ICE agents during contentious raids on unauthorized migrants amid fierce protests from far-left groups.

Deployment Drama Unfolds in 2025

The mission wasn’t just about immigration enforcement; Trump also argued the Guard’s presence would curb rampant crime in cities like Washington, D.C., and Memphis.

In D.C., where roughly 2,000 troops were stationed since August, violent crime dropped nearly 50% in the first 20 days compared to the prior year, according to CBS News.

Across the nation, violent crime took a nosedive in 2025, with homicides projected to fall by 20%—a historic single-year drop, as reported by ABC News.

Legal Roadblocks Hit Hard

But here’s where the plot thickens: legal challenges swarmed the deployments from day one, with federal courts ruling Trump lacked the authority to federalize troops without clear evidence of a rebellion or similar crisis.

In Illinois, US District Judge April Perry found no proof of a “danger of rebellion” and blocked the Chicago deployment, a decision that echoed in California and Oregon with similar court rulings.

Hundreds of troops slated for these cities were either held back, placed on standby, or partially pulled out as lawsuits piled up against the administration’s plans.

Supreme Court Delivers Rare Setback

Fast forward to December 23, when the Supreme Court refused to lift the block on Chicago’s deployment, effectively stalling parallel battles over Los Angeles and Portland—a surprising defeat for an administration often favored by the 6-3 conservative majority.

Justices Alito, Thomas, and Gorsuch dissented, with Alito and Thomas arguing the court had no grounds to dismiss the government’s need for troops to enforce immigration laws.

Trump didn’t hold back, announcing the withdrawal on Truth Social on New Year’s Eve, stating, “We are removing the National Guard from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland, despite the fact that CRIME has been greatly reduced by having these great Patriots in those cities.”

Trump’s Defiant Farewell to Troops

He added a kicker, saying, “We will come back, perhaps in a much different and stronger form, when crime begins to soar again - Only a question of time!”

While Trump touts the Guard’s crime-fighting wins, critics—especially Democrats—counter that deploying soldiers turned them into political pawns, a claim amplified after two soldiers were shot near the White House in late November, one fatally, by an Afghan who once aided U.S. forces.

Let’s be frank: using our brave troops as shields in ideological battles is a dangerous game, though ignoring urban crime isn’t exactly a winning strategy for progressive leaders either.