Breanna Swiech ‘26, Copy Editor
Detroit, home to the Tigers, Lions, Pistons, and Red Wings might become home to the National Guard as well in the coming years, according to Vice President JD Vance. Part of the Trump administration’s agenda is to crack down on crime in major cities, and he has been sending the National Guard to do his bidding, and Detroit is his next target.
On Sept. 17, during a rally in Howell, the Vice President commented to Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, “Gretchen, we are happy to send the National Guard to Detroit, Michigan. All you have to do is ask.” Although this comment might not seem threatening, for a democratic governor and city, it hits close to home.
In reality, Detroit is not the crime-infested city that Vance might imagine, but one that has evolved over the years, both reducing crime and updating with the modern age under the supervision of Mike Duggan, its mayor of 11 years. According to the City of Detroit’s official website, Detroit is in a comeback phase, “revitalizing neighborhoods, restoring essential services, and attracting new businesses, and ensuring Detroiter’s share in the city’s growth. Violent crime has also hit a new low in 2024 with “the fewest homicides since 1965.” This is due in part to the implementation of violence intervention groups and coordinated efforts with Governor Whitmer.
Moreover, Detroit is filled with a rich culture that will be endangered if the National Guard is ever sent there. “Detroit Grit” is the roots of blue-collared resilience and hard work that is present at the roots of the city—like in Diego Rivera’s Detroit Industry Murals. It is also a city heavily influenced by immigrant cultures and full of diverse Black, Italian, Polish, Middle Eastern communities that bring value and represent Detroit. Because there are so many different communities and perspectives, it makes us strong and it makes us tough. Hopefully Trump will never send the National Guard to Detroit because he will not enjoy the sheer grit and resilience of the people that are waiting for him, their voices raised and ready to show him how brilliant the city is.
Detroit is not the only city receiving subtle messages though, this has also been extended to Washington, D.C.; Chicago, Illinois; Memphis, Tennessee; and Portland, Oregon, all coincidentally—or not—democratic cities. Specifically, Chicago has been one of the main cities targeted by Trump. He called the city a “killing field” and the “murder capital of the world,” according to BBC’s Jake Horton and Lucy Gilder. Chicago, like most other major cities, does have a high crime rate; however, it is important to note that crime in Chicago has been in a downward trend over the recent years. BBC reports, “Last year, there were about 17 homicides per 100,000 people, down from about 19 in 2023 and 23 the year before that.”
Furthermore, Chicago is more than a “killing field,” it is like Detroit — a culturally rich city that contributes to America’s culture and history. Defining it as violent, while ignoring the beauty of the people there, is a flat, biased perspective. Before Trump sent the National Guard to marshall Chicago, he tweeted, “Chicago about to find out why it’s called the Department of WAR.” This blatant threat towards the residents of Chicago illustrates that the president is willing to go to war on his own country and cities. Moreover, only targeting democratic cities demonstrates clear bias and an inability to unify the country and find common ground, which is desperately needed due to the United State’s polarized political climate.
Currently, Illinois is suing the Trump administration to prevent them from sending the National Guard troops into the streets of Chicago. The National Guard sent to Illinois hails from Texas, and this has driven a divide between Texas’ Republican governor and Illinois’ democratic one. According to NBC’s Gary Grumbach, Dareh Gregorian and Selina Guevara, Illinois’ attorney general’s office wrote, “The American people, regardless of where they reside, should not live under the threat of occupation by the United States military, particularly not simply because their city or state leadership has fallen out of a president’s favor.” The military is supposed to be used to protect America, not to terrorize its citizens, and not used unlawfully or dubiously by the government.
Not only is the deployment of the National Guard in cities detrimental to their residents and communities, but it is also not “legally justified,” according to NPR’s Obed Manuel and Steve Inskeep. The National Guard cannot simply be deployed on a whim, or to intimidate political adversaries. Even if their sole purpose is to counter crime, they need more proof that the crime is to the extent that it needs to be that military personnel are essential. The National Guard can only be deployed to U.S. cities if the city “is [in] a foreign invasion, rebellion or if the federal government is unable to enforce federal laws,” NPR continued. However, the only recent disturbances in Illinois are the Immigration Enforcement and Customs (I.C.E.) agents that are deliberately using aggressive tactics to achieve their goals when there are much clearer peaceful ones. NPR reports that I.C.E. raided an apartment building, and that “agents pulled residents, including children, out of their homes and detained some U.S. citizens.” This behavior toward any community and humans, especially those that Trump swore an oath to protect, is unacceptable.
Trump is using the military as a weapon of intimidation against his country’s own citizens, and Vance is carrying this out with his blatant threatening of Detroit. This is disgusting behavior that should not be tolerated in America, much less in the power of the presidency. The National Guard and other military personnel also have an obligation, not just to the White House, but to American citizens. Despite what orders are given from the government, if a military personnel commits crimes against citizens, they are held accountable in court. The country and its military are teetering on a tightrope, and are being forced to decide whether to obey the Trump administration or stay loyal to the American people.
Lyon Life 