Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont spoke strongly Tuesday against President Donald Trump’s use of National Guard troops in an attempt to control crime in Democratic cities across the country, saying the extra law enforcement is not necessary.
“The Guard reports to the governor unless there’s a real national emergency,” Lamont said when asked by The Courant. “I don’t see a national emergency out there. I don’t want to militarize our streets. I think we’re doing a pretty good job of keeping our communities safe. If we need help, we’ll let you know.”
Lamont added, “Look, we have community policing. There’s some trust between the folks in the community and our local police force and our state police force. That’s working pretty well. … I don’t need a bunch of soldiers coming in and patrolling our streets.”
Lamont is concerned about the recent deployment of troops in Washington, D.C. at the same time that the city’s mayor said that homicides, car jackings, and gun-related crimes have dropped recently.
“At the end of the day, it’s having a chilling effect,” Lamont said. “When you’ve got a tank sitting outside of Union Station, I think that’s not a good look.”
Lamont’s comments came on the same day that a federal judge in California ruled against the Trump administration’s controversial decision in June to send thousands of National Guard troops and 700 U.S. Marines to Los Angeles. The ruling by the brother of former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer came after a civil trial was held in August.
“The evidence at trial established that Defendants systematically used armed soldiers (whose identity was often obscured by protective armor) and military vehicles to set up protective perimeters and traffic blockades, engage in crowd control, and otherwise demonstrate a military presence in and around Los Angeles,” U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer in San Francisco wrote in his 52-page filing.
The troops were sent to Los Angeles before Trump deployed more troops to the nation’s capital in Washington, D.C., where the soldiers have been seen near national monuments. While Trump has talked recently about crime in Chicago, Illinois’ governor and local officials have pushed back against the idea of sending troops.
The White House rejected the court ruling in the Los Angeles case.
“Once again, a rogue judge is trying to usurp the authority of the Commander-in-Chief to protect American cities from violence and destruction,” White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said in a statement Tuesday.
Two top Republicans in Hartford, House GOP leader Vincent Candelora and ranking public safety member Greg Howard, said the Trump administration needs to send help when it is needed in Democratic-run communities.
“The deployment of the U.S. National Guard to address urban crime represents a failure of local political leadership—plain and simple,” they said in a joint statement. “In cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington D.C., unabated crime has left residents unsafe in their own neighborhoods.
“Local elected leaders have struggled to fulfill their fundamental responsibility of public safety, creating a disconnect with citizens who deserve secure communities. While it’s fine for critics to question whether federal intervention should be used, it’s equally important for Democrats to pause from bashing President Trump for a minute and examine the track record of the leaders in the most dangerous cities who have demonstrably failed to protect their constituents.”
House Republican leader Vincent Candelora of North Branford says some local leaders have not handled crime in their communities, prompting President Trump to send in National Guard troops. Here, he talks to reporters at the state Capitol in Hartford. (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant)
But Lamont hailed the ruling in California.
“Today’s ruling affirms what we have been saying all along – deploying a state’s National Guard to conduct civilian law enforcement activities without the request and consent of that state’s governor is illegal and an abuse of power,” Lamont said. “I am opposed to it here in Connecticut and stood with Governor Newsom during his opposition in California this past June. Using the military against American civilians is neither the most effective nor most efficient way to prevent crime and increase public safety. This court ruling makes it clear that the military cannot be politicized and used in our neighborhoods against U.S. citizens.”
Democratic governors
Most of the Democratic governors last week sent a letter to Trump that urged him to avoid sending troops to various Democratic cities. Only four Democratic governors, including Lamont and Tim Walz of Minnesota, did not sign the letter.
But Lamont, who had been on vacation in Maine in August, said he did not know about the national effort by the Democratic Governors Association.
“I wasn’t aware of that letter,” Lamont said Tuesday when asked by The Courant. “We’ve signed virtually every one of those letters.”
Gov. Ned Lamont opposes President Trump’s move to send National Guard troopers to Democratic-run cities. Here, he speaks to reporters during a press conference at the State Pier in New London, on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025, held in response to the Trump administration’s order to halt construction on the Revolution Wind project. (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant)
In their letter, the governors said that “instead of actually addressing crime, President Trump cut federal funding for law enforcement that states rely on and continues to politicize our military by trying to undermine the executive authority of governors as commanders in chief of their state’s National Guard.”
In Connecticut, Lamont said the state will continue to move forward with police officers focused on crimes in accordance with the Trust Act.
“The federal government does immigration,” Lamont told reporters. “We do law and order. Let’s do what we do and let them do what they do.”
U.S. Rep. John B. Larson of East Hartford agreed with Lamont.
“Yet another federal court has confirmed our warnings about President Trump’s abuses of power – he operates outside of the law,” Larson said.
“Whether it is masked ICE operatives separating families in Newington or ordering the Marines to patrol Los Angeles streets, Donald Trump wants to treat federal forces like his personal army. That is not the America I know. Connecticut families deserve leaders who stand up for their rights and protect them from these heavy-handed, illegal tactics. Judge Breyer was right to rein in Trump’s moves in Los Angeles. Will House Republicans step up to defend the Constitution, or will they continue to enable this president’s descent toward authoritarianism?”
Christopher Keating can be reached at ckeating@courant.com