Two more Republican governors are surging National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., in support of President Donald Trump‘s crackdown on violent crime in the capital. On Sunday night, South Carolina Gov.

Aug 16 (Reuters) - The Republican governors of three states are deploying hundreds of National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., at the request of the administration of President Donald Trump, who has portrayed the city as awash in crime.

National Guard troops patrolling Washington DC may carry weapons in the near future, a reversal of their initial orders.

Trump's plan to address crime in D.C. calls for deploying National Guard troops along the National Mall overnight Wednesday into Thursday morning, according to a source.

The Republican governors of West Virginia, South Carolina and Ohio announced Saturday they will send National Guard troops to Washington, DC, in an escalation of President Donald Trump’s efforts to federally take over law enforcement in the city.

With National Guard troops from West Virginia, South Carolina and Ohio all ordered to Washington, D.C. on Saturday, the number of troops on the ground in the District will nearly double in the coming days.

A White House spokesperson told CBS News that while deployed National Guard members "may be armed," they will not make arrests.

West Virginia National Guard troops head to nation's capital following Trump administration request to restore cleanliness and security to D.C.

A National Guard deployment reacheed 400 members in Washington as a federal operation began targeting crime and homelessness around the clock Wednesday.