Republicans Back Trump’s Deployment of Troops to Chicago — For Now

The president is sending troops to cities over the objection of mayors and governors, testing his party’s commitment to keeping the federal government from meddling in state affairs.

Military personnel in uniform are seen at the U.S. Army Reserve Center near Chicago.

Erin Hooley/AP

Republican senators who have no legal qualms about President Donald Trump sending National Guard troops to Chicago aren’t exactly thrilled with the standoff between state and federal officials.

“I don’t know if this is an issue of law,” Sen. Todd Young, a Republican from neighboring Indiana, said when asked about the use of troops in Chicago over local leaders’ objections and in spite of limits to what the military can do on U.S. soil.

Young didn’t offer a ringing endorsement: “It may be more an issue of propriety,” he told NOTUS.