Staff Reports
Democratic senators have wasted no time trying to rein in the military clout of President-elect Donald Trump, more concerned about his potential use of the troops than the actual security risks facing the country. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Richard Blumenthal are particularly keen to establish ground rules for military deployment, reaching out to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and President Biden to create a policy that would limit domestic military action to only when local officials request it. Apparently, they believe that the National Guard should sit idly by while chaos reigns unless an official state authority picks up the phone first.
Trump has historically talked tough on issues like immigration and civil unrest, stirring up worries among liberal lawmakers who seem to think that his solution to deporting illegal immigrants or quelling riots might involve an action-packed domestic deployment of the military, reminiscent of a blockbuster war film. This has led Warren and Blumenthal to pen a letter pushing for legal restrictions on the use of troops in any civil situation, unless local authorities are throwing in the towel and begging for help.
These senators want the Pentagon to clarify when the military can play superhero on the streets. They suggest that the Insurrection Act should only come into play when states are truly overwhelmed, which must be a pretty low bar given that many have seen firsthand how overwhelmed they can be amid protests and riots. They argue for a strict protocol requiring congressional approval before deploying troops, almost as if they expect Congress to peacefully debate the merits of a riot while buildings burn in the background.
it's already illegal. (Posse Comitatus Act)
Defending borders with military IS legal … and appropriate.
What they are urging is treasonous insurrection. https://t.co/A2tEVgHqug
— Jamie Sears (@_Jamie_Sears) December 2, 2024
Adding another layer of concern, Warren and Blumenthal cited a recent Supreme Court decision regarding presidential immunity, claiming that the military might be confused about when and how they can legally spring into action. This seems to reflect a deeper fear that military personnel — who have sworn to protect the Constitution — might not be fully aware of their rights and responsibilities if a Commander-in-Chief like Trump comes knocking.
If Biden does decide to create these new rules, there’s a catch: once Trump takes office, he could easily swipe the policy clean off the table. Despite their best efforts, the likelihood of a Trump presidency being stopped by a bureaucratic memo written by worried senators seems about as strong as a damp firecracker. Meanwhile, conservative Americans remain less worried about Trump’s military use and more so about the impending chaos should the Democrats’ attempts to limit it succeed. In the end, this will likely play out as just another episode in the ongoing saga of political posturing, with a dash of concern for national security choking in the background.
