Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt has become the first major Republican leader to openly oppose Donald Trump’s deployment of state National Guard troops across state lines, arguing it violates federalist principles and sets a dangerous precedent.
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt has become the first prominent Republican to challenge former President Donald Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to other states. Speaking to The New York Times on Thursday, Stitt said Trump’s decision to send Texas and federal troops to cities like Chicago and Memphis to combat crime undermines states’ rights.
“We believe in the federalist system — that’s states’ rights,” Stitt said. “Oklahomans would lose their mind if Pritzker in Illinois sent troops down to Oklahoma during the Biden administration.”
While Stitt acknowledged crime reductions in Washington, D.C., following the Guard’s arrival, he questioned why Texas Governor Greg Abbott deployed troops to Illinois instead of Trump federalizing Illinois’ own Guard.
“As a federalist believer, one governor against another governor, I don’t think that’s the right way to approach this,” he said.
Stitt added he plans to raise the issue with Abbott when they meet at a football game this weekend.