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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called protesters "ingrates" on Thursday, July 2, as he and other top members of the Trump administration praised the National Guard's work during a D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force event.“This background noise this morning is perfect; it’s the sound of ingrates, of ingratitude, of people who are so blinded by ideology they can’t see law and order and common sense in front of them,” Hegseth said. “There’s nothing ideological about this group. There’s nothing political about this exercise.”Apart from Hegseth, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche were also heckled by “Free DC” protesters during an event.The protesters blew whistles and horns while Trump administration officials touted the National Guard, who have been patrolling Washington, DC, since the president deployed the military branch following a public safety emergency declaration last year, according to reporting from The Hill.“Thank you for being here, for backing us up along the way. To the entire team, to the soldiers here, thank you for everything you’re doing. Thank you for waiting out here in the sun,” Hegseth said.A strained relationship between Trump administration, DCDuring his second term, Trump has pushed for a larger federal role in the District, citing concerns about crime, homelessness and public safety.In August 2025, Trump deployed about 800 National Guard troops to Washington, DC, after declaring a public safety emergency. Several Republican-led states also sent Guard members to assist.While the federal takeover of the city’s police department ended in September, National Guard deployments have continued. Currently, more than 4,000 National Guard troops remain deployed in the District.Aside from the National Guard's deployment, Trump also formed the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force in March 2025. In the executive order establishing the task force, the president directed federal agencies to work on “beautifying” the nation's capital.Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
