Some National Guard units patrolling the nation’s capital at the direction of President Donald Trump have started carrying firearms, an escalation of his military deployment that makes good on a directive issued late last week by his defense secretary.

Some National Guard units in Washington are now carrying firearms under President Trump’s orders, marking an escalation of the military presence in the capital.

President Donald Trump declared his crime crackdown in the nation's capital a success on Thursday as he visited federal officers deployed under his plan, which has drawn resident complaints that its tactics are too heavyhanded.