Rep. Mark Alford, R-Mo., appears to be at odds with President Donald Trump when it comes to deploying the National Guard in certain situations.
Speaking at a town hall in his district Monday, Alford said he does not think the federal government should send troops to cities other than Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles unless governors request them.
The remark came in the middle of a heated back-and-forth in Harrisonville, where attendees engaged in shouted exchanges with one another and with Alford, making it difficult at times for him to answer questions uninterrupted.
After saying he was OK with Trump sending the guard into Washington and to Los Angeles earlier this year in response to protests against immigration enforcement, Alford indicated there was a line he’s not comfortable crossing.
“But I do not think that we should be sending National Guard into other cities unless the governor, unless the governor [asks],” he said.
Trump is ratcheting up his threats to deploy guard members to other cities. Trump said Sunday he is considering sending troops to “clean up” Baltimore, and he has suggested he would do the same to “straighten up” Chicago.
Democratic leaders from Illinois and Maryland have slammed Trump for his comments. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson hit back at Trump on Monday, saying troops were not needed in Chicago and calling Trump’s threats an attempt at political intimidation.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott also pushed back against Trump’s threats. Moore said he “would not be open” to guard members’ being deployed in Baltimore, adding that as governor he would not authorize such a move.
A spokesperson for Alford did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday night about his stance on Trump’s threats to send the guard to Chicago and Baltimore.
Alford was first elected in 2022 and won re-election last year with more than 71% of the vote. Trump endorsed him on social media last week.
