Donald Trump has pulled National Guard troops from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland after federal courts blocked their deployments.
"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, and ONLY by that fact," Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social.
"Portland, Los Angeles, and Chicago were GONE if it weren't for the Federal Government stepping in."
The President then warned that National Guardsmen would return "in a much different and stronger form, when crime begins to soar again".
"Only a question of time!" he added.
Democratic governors and mayors celebrated the withdrawal as a legal victory.
California Governor Gavin Newsom had claimed the deployments - first seen in his state in June last year - were unlawful from the start.
"About time Donald Trump admitted defeat," he said. "We've said it from day one: the federal takeover of California's National Guard is illegal."
Donald Trump has pulled National Guard troops from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland
|GETTY
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass then argued the US constitution had prevailed.
"Trump is backing away because there was never a legal justification for deploying troops in LA and cities across the country," she said.
"The constitution still applies to presidents who wish it didn't. Angelenos stood together. We saw through it. The courts saw through it."
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek then crowed: "They were never lawfully deployed to Portland and there was no need for their presence.
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The President then warned Democrat mayors and governors that National Guardsmen would return
| REUTERS"If President Trump has finally chosen to follow court orders and demobilise our troops, that's a big win for Oregonians and for the rule of law."
However, she said her office had not yet received formal notification about the troops returning home.
California, Illinois and Oregon had filed lawsuits challenging the anti-crime deployments as unlawful federal overreach - to which judges agreed.
On December 10, a court ordered Los Angeles troops returned to the control of Governor Newsom.
California Governor Gavin Newsom had claimed the deployments - first seen in his state in June last year - were unlawful from the start
|REUTERS
The National Guard normally operates under state governors but can be taken over by the President in limited circumstances.
But Mr Trump's vow the deployments were successful came as data revealed violent crime was going down.
Chicago recorded 412 murders by 28 December, compared with 585 during the same period in 2024.
"Chicago recorded the fewest homicides in 2025 than in any year this century, with totals far below previous spikes. The city hasn't recorded figures this low since the mid 1960's," the city's Mayor Brandon Johnson said - without mentioning the National Guard.
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