Gov. McMaster deploys SC National Guard to Washington to support Trump order

Noah Feit, The State on Aug 17, 2025

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Count South Carolina among the states that is supporting President Donald Trump’s executive order to restore “law and order in the District of Columbia.”

On Saturday, S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster said that he approved of sending members of his state’s National Guard to Washington to enforce Trump’s order.

McMaster authorized the deployment of 200 South Carolina National Guardsmen to the nation’s capital, according to the Governor’s Office.

“South Carolina is proud to stand with President Trump as he works to restore law and order to our nation’s capital and ensure safety for all who live, work, and visit there,” McMaster said in a news release.

McMaster did include a provision that would bring the soldiers back to South Carolina, saying the guardsmen are subject to immediate recall if a hurricane or other natural disaster affects the Palmetto State. Hurricane Erin is currently churning in the Atlantic Ocean.

“As our National Guard works to support President Trump’s mission, should a hurricane or natural disaster threaten our state, these men and women can and will be immediately recalled home to respond,” McMaster said.

The governor’s order comes at the request of the Pentagon’s National Guard Bureau, according to the release. The deployment will be funded by the federal government under Title 32, the Governor’s Office said.

South Carolina was one of three states led by Republican governors who issued orders Saturday to send National Guard troops from their state’s to Washington, according to NPR. West Virginia’s Patrick Morrisey said his state was deploying 300-400 troops, while Ohio’s Mike DeWine said he’ll send 150 soldiers from the National Guard in the Buckeye State, NPR reported.

In his Aug. 11 executive order, Trump said he was deploying the District of Columbia National Guard to remove citizens’ “fear of being subjected to violent, menacing street crime.”

Washington’s police department was placed under federal control and about 800 members of the D.C. National Guard were deployed as a result of the executive order, CBS News reported.

“Citizens, tourists, and staff alike are unable to live peacefully in the nation’s capital, which is under siege from violent crime,” Trump said in the executive order. “It is a point of national disgrace that Washington, D.C., has a violent crime rate that is higher than some of the most dangerous places in the world.”

In January, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington said that violent crime in D.C. was down 35% from 2023 and was the lowest it has been in than more 30 years.

On Sunday, the South Carolina Senate Democratic Caucus condemned McMaster’s decision, calling the deployment “partisan politics.”

“Sending our National Guard troops away when South Carolina faces the constant threat of hurricanes is a dangerous and irresponsible choice,” Senate Minority Leader Brad Hutto said in a news release. “Our Guard members should be on standby to protect our people and communities, not sent to fulfill a political mission in Washington. The Governor owes it to the citizens of this state to put their safety first.”

The Caucus called on McMaster to reconsider his decision.

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