In a surprising turn of events, federal deployment of national guard troops in major Democratic-run cities has been halted, marking a significant victory for state governors and local autonomy.

President Trump announced the withdrawal of national guard members from Los Angeles, Chicago, and Portland, following legal challenges that consistently undermined his administration's authority to federalize state troops. The decision came after the Department of Justice conceded to a California court ruling that returned national guard control to Governor Gavin Newsom.

Newsom celebrated the development, describing the troop deployments as an 'illegal intimidation tactic' that would now come to an end. The governor immediately directed California national guard leaders to return service members to their families, highlighting the personal impact of these federal interventions.

The withdrawals follow multiple legal setbacks, including a rare rebuke from the US Supreme Court blocking national guard deployments in Illinois. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, both Democrats, had vocally opposed the federal troop presence in their state.

Trump attempted to frame the withdrawal as a temporary strategic retreat, posting on Truth Social that the troops had successfully reduced crime. 'We will come back, perhaps in a much different and stronger form, when crime begins to soar again – Only a question of time!' he wrote, suggesting potential future deployments.

The initial troop deployments, which began in June, were ostensibly in response to protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. However, legal challenges consistently argued that the federal government was overstepping its authority by seizing control of state national guard units.

The withdrawal raises questions about similar deployments in other Democratic-run cities, including Washington DC, where over 2,000 troops have been stationed since August. A tragic incident in November, where a national guard member was killed outside a metro station, had previously intensified discussions about troop deployment and security strategies.

While the immediate crisis appears resolved, the legal and political tensions underlying these deployments remain unresolved, suggesting future conflicts may be on the horizon as jurisdictional boundaries between federal and state authorities continue to be tested.