President Donald Trump has mobilized National Guard units to assist law enforcement and safeguard ICE agents and federal facilities following a surge in violent protests and threats against federal personnel. The deployment extends to major cities including Los Angeles, Portland, Chicago, Memphis, and Washington, D.C.
The decision, aimed at protecting federal property and personnel, has sparked backlash from Democrat governors, mayors, and members of the media who have criticized the move as an overreach. Among the loudest critics is MSNBC reporter Jacob Soboroff, who rose to prominence during Trump’s first term for his coverage of border enforcement and migrant child separation policies — coverage that later earned him both a book and a film deal titled Separated.
During the Biden administration, Soboroff was notably silent on reports of widespread child trafficking tied to lax border enforcement. However, with President Trump’s renewed efforts to secure the border and enforce immigration laws, Soboroff has returned to the immigration beat — this time focusing his criticism on the administration’s use of the National Guard.
for over four months I’ve reported as Trump has put troops and federal agents in cities across America. more than ever I’m seeing and hearing from people pushing back — standing up for immigrants, democracy and members of our military who don’t want this. pic.twitter.com/BBxngL5lKp
— Jacob Soboroff (@jacobsoboroff) October 14, 2025
In a discussion with MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace, Soboroff suggested that National Guard troops may soon “turn on this administration” over their deployment to cities to support immigration enforcement. He claimed that soldiers and their families are uncomfortable with being stationed near ICE operations or at protest sites, implying that morale is eroding among service members.
“Members of the National Guard that I’ve talked to are deeply uncomfortable about having to participate in a mission like this,” Soboroff said. “We’re not talking about a small constituency — we’re talking about their families and communities.”
Soboroff went further, questioning whether young Americans should enlist in the military at all, saying that recruits might soon find themselves “holding rifles up against their neighbors” rather than defending the country abroad.
During the same broadcast, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker reportedly joked with Soboroff about whether the country would even “have an election” in 2026, drawing concern from viewers who saw the remark as undermining confidence in democratic institutions.
MSNBC hosts framed Trump’s use of the National Guard as a threat to democracy, despite the long-standing historical precedent for presidents deploying federal troops to quell riots, enforce law and order, and protect federal property — from President George Washington’s suppression of the Whiskey Rebellion to President Trump’s own current efforts to maintain public safety and national security.
Supporters of the president argue that his actions are a lawful response to violent unrest and an effort to protect Americans from anarchist groups and criminal networks that have targeted ICE agents and government buildings. They contend that the Guard’s deployment upholds the democratic will of the American people, who re-elected Trump last year on his promise to restore border integrity and enforce immigration laws.
In a later MSNBC segment, Soboroff expressed outrage that ICE uses coordinated tactics and internal playbooks to conduct operations, suggesting that such organization unfairly hinders activist interference.
You need to see this:
“The show of force is the point. They want these images to be out…The Department of Homeland Security is walking around Chicago with a film crew.” –@jacobsoboroff pic.twitter.com/I5LwLKELFx
— Christopher Webb (@cwebbonline) October 14, 2025
Despite media criticism, the Trump administration has reaffirmed that the National Guard will remain deployed as long as necessary to protect federal officers, maintain order, and uphold the rule of law.