Washington DC braced for violence with insiders says ‘sense of dread’ | US | News

America’s National Guard has readied thousands of armed troops for deployment onto the streets of Washington DC amid fears post-election violence could again descend on the US Capitol.

Officials in more than two dozen states have offered soldiers to prevent a repeat of the deadly riot carried out by Donald Trump’s MAGA mob four years ago.

Today, the US stands at a precipice, with the days ahead clouded by fear and tension over the battle between Kamala Harris and the former president.

Officials have been preparing for the possibility of unrest if the election’s aftermath leads to violence.

The FBI has been monitoring online forums used by far-right and far-left agitators and, along with local and federal agencies, is preparing for the possibility that the political fault lines exposed by the election could erupt.

Memories of the violent January 6 Capitol riot are at the forefront of security officials’ minds, who are now taking unprecedented steps to prevent a repeat of the chaos that shocked the world.

They have been left concerned by Trump’s own words when he survived an attempted assassination in July while on the campaign trail.

After he was shot in the ear, he defiantly rose to his feet, raised his fist, shouting, “Fight. Fight. Fight”.

The chant has since become the mantra of his rallies and his MAGA faithful.

Washington DC, America’s seat of power and where the next president will be inaugurated on January 20, has not formally requested Guard troops.

Still, the capital is tense, and officials are quietly bracing for a worst-case scenario with businesses boarding up their premises and fences being erected around buildings.

For weeks, National Guard leaders have held emergency planning meetings with state governors, highlighting their readiness to deploy troops within hours of notice if needed.

On Tuesday they were finalising measures aimed at securing key landmarks, maintaining order, and preventing potential clashes among volatile crowds.

“We can’t afford a repeat of the past,” a senior Defence Department official told the Express.

“Our goal is to ensure that this election does not spiral into a security crisis and that the transition to the next president remains peaceful.”

The stakes could not be higher, and for many, the potential for post-election violence feels frighteningly real.

Trump’s supporters are vocal, rallying behind his claims of election fraud even before the results. At the same time, Harris’s backers are equally determined, viewing her possible win as a turning point for America.

The escalating division has left federal officials racing to ready security measures.

For weeks, the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Defence have engaged in high-stakes planning sessions to predict potential flashpoints and implement response strategies.

The spectre of January 6 hangs heavy in these discussions, with agencies keenly aware of how fast a rally or protest can morph into chaos, especially when emotions are at a fever pitch.

“We’re actively working to ensure history does not repeat itself,” the source added.

About 25,000 Guard troops from around America flooded into Washington in the days after the January 6 riot when thousands of supporters of then-President Trump stormed the Capitol to prevent Congress from certifying Joe Biden’s win.

The soldiers, along with local and federal law enforcement, locked down the city for the inauguration, securing the Capitol, monuments, underground entrances and the perimeter of the central part of the city.

Colonel Jean-Paul Laurenceau, chief of future operations for the National Guard Bureau, said it is unclear how many Guard troops will be needed or requested this year.

He said it will depend on what the District of Columbia wants, but he noted that the National Guard Bureau and the states are leaning forward in anticipation of a request for assistance.

“We’re here to support DC with sustainment, lodging, transportation – anything they need to prepare for this mission,” he said.

Other officials have said it also will depend on intelligence reports assessing the potential threats to the city and the transition of power.

Fueling concerns about possible violence are Trump’s claims – without proof – that “cheating” was underway before counting had begun.

At rally after rally, he has told supporters that the only way he can lose is if Democrats cheat, and he has repeatedly refused to say whether he will accept the results regardless of the outcome.

The District of Columbia’s Metropolitan Police Department is already stretched, monitoring likely hotspots and prepared to make rapid strategic adjustments.

Meanwhile, the Secret Service, responsible for protecting both candidates, is tightening security protocols around the Capitol and other critical sites in anticipation of potential threats.

“We’re in uncharted territory,” said a source with close knowledge of the security operations underway. “There’s a sense of dread that what we saw before could only be a fraction of what’s possible this time around.”

Guard members have historically supported presidential inaugurations, going back to the one for President George Washington.
However, the 2021 event involved an enormous response due to the Capitol riot, which forced lawmakers to flee and delayed the certification of the presidential vote for hours.

In the days afterwards, troops poured into the city by the busload.

The upcoming days will be tense, not only in Washington DC but across the US, as Americans prepare for a result that is bound to leave some furious.

Leaders from both sides are calling for calm, with Harris’s campaign encouraging supporters to “respect the process, respect each other, and above all, honour our democracy.”

Whether peace prevails or turmoil takes hold remains to be seen, but one thing is clear – America stands at a turning point, with the National Guard, state leaders, and federal agencies ready to answer the call should the election put democracy at risk.