US National Guard units begin carrying weapons in Washington

Some US National Guard units patrolling Washington have started carrying weapons in an intensification of President Donald Trump's military deployment in the US capital.

Members of the South Carolina National Guard were seen there with holstered handguns on Sunday.

The development comes after Trump stationed hundreds of troops in the Democratic-governed city as part of what he said was a crackdown on crime.

Initially, the US president called up 800 members of the District of Columbia National Guard, before six Republican-led states sent more troops to the capital.

Last week, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a directive ordering the National Guard to start carrying weapons while on patrol in the capital.

Some units are now armed with handguns and others with rifles, according to a defence department official who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

It is thought that those working in administration or transportation would likely stay unarmed.

A statement from the joint task force that controls policing in Washington said the patrols began carrying weapons on Sunday.

Their use of weapons should be "a last resort and solely in response to an imminent threat of death or serious bodily harm", it said.

Trump deployed thousands of troops in Washington two weeks ago, drawing sporadic protests from local residents.

He is weighing up expanding deployments to other Democratic-led cities such as Baltimore, Chicago and New York.

“I think Chicago will be our next,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday, adding that New York could then follow.

His comments have drawn strong pushback from Democratic leaders in both states.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said the city doesn't need “a military occupation" and would sue to block one. He added there was no communication from the White House about a possible military deployment.

“We’re not going to surrender our humanity to this tyrant," Johnson said Sunday on MSNBC. “I can tell you this, the city of Chicago has a long history of standing up against tyranny, resisting those who wish to undermine the interests of working people.”