[SJackson]

I’m still wondering about the legality of using troops in this manner.

An interesting question. National Guard is routinely used domestically, for emergencies from natural causes and rioting. At request of the Governor, which DC doesn't have. Presumably the request would be the Presidents, in this case President Trump. Troops are routinely used to protect Federal facilities, so I doubt there's any problem. But the fact does remain, National Guard troops are under the Dept. of the Army.

[Sacajaweau]

The fact remains that the intent was to counter a PERCEIVED attack...but there appears to have been no chatter.

So anytime you PERCEIVE an attack...you just call out 26,000 troops??

[ABN 505]

Not sure of legalities but I do know because I was there that the 82nd Airborne of which I was a member went to DC to quell the riots back in 1972. I believe the called it “The days of Rage” and it was fomented by the leftist's and antiwar agitators. We would just grab them and haul them over to RFK stadium in buses to be processed and the ones who gave us a hard time regretted it. Legal? Probably not but they never got to tear down a statue , burn cars or destroy buildings.