Only a day after President Joe Biden’s inauguration, more than 15,000 National Guard members had planned on preparing to leave Washington D.C and head home. Nearly 26,000 Guard troops had been deployed to D.C for the inaugural and just 10,600 remain on duty. Since the incident at the Capitol building, U.S defense officials were worried about an attack or threat regarding the security of the inauguration and prompted thousands of National Guard troops to fly into Washington D.C for the event.
In the last few days, reports of shabby treatment of the National Guard by those in the Capitol had sparked public outrage, including photos of Guard members sleeping on the marble floors between 12-hour shifts and people being told they had to take their break time inside a parking garage breathing in exhaust fumes instead of inside the Capitol. They received cots to sleep on after the pictures quickly went viral.
Gov. Greg Abbott, who had authorized more than 1,000 troops to go to D.C, called it one of the most offensive things he’s ever heard. “No one should ever question the loyalty or professionalism of the Texas National Guard,” he tweeted.
Gov. Abbott warned that Texas is a law and order state and he would not send troops to D.C. again if they were disrespected. He instructed Major Gen. Tracy Norris on Thursday to order the return of the Texas National Guard back to his state and that he had “seen enough.”
Gov. Abbott also called out Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy for suggesting they assess the Guard troops for ‘potential insider threats’ during the Biden Inauguration, even though the Department of Defense had no leads indicating so. They insisted on background checks and investigations into all National Guard troops who had voted for Trump last year. McCarthy had warned commanders to “be on the lookout” for any problems within their ranks. Acting Secretary of Defense Chris Miller pointed out on Fox News that this scope of military analysis for an inauguration was “unique.”
“Yesterday dozens of senators and congressmen walked down our lines taking photos, shaking our hands and thanking us for our service. Within 24 hours, they had no further use for us and banished us to the corner of a parking garage. We feel incredibly betrayed,” said one Guardsman.
The National Guard released a statement saying they were looking to work with the Capitol Police in moving the troops to rest areas while remaining an agile and flexible force for the safety and security of the Capitol and surrounding areas.
Democrats had ordered thousands of National Guard troops in for the inauguration of one man but turned a blind eye to the riots that hit communities last year. There are over 70 million voters who now know that the Democrat Party doesn’t care about anyone but their leader. They consider themselves above the law and people, as always.
