Since June of 2025, thousands of National Guard troops have been deployed to four US cities – Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Chicago and Memphis. And, if President Donald Trump has his way, Portland, Oregon, will be fifth on the list. Trump says the deployments are a push to crack down on crime and to support his widespread deportation efforts. But when a president deploys the National Guard over the objections of governors and local mayors, is the decision about keeping the peace, or testing the limits of executive power? USA TODAY Breaking News Reporter Michael Loria joins USA TODAY’s The Excerpt to unpack the issues surrounding this unprecedented deployment of US troops on American soil.

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