FACT CHECK: Viral X Video Makes False Claim About Why National Guard Is In New York City

Christine Sellers | Fact Check Reporter

A viral video shared on X claims the National Guard has been deployed to New York City ahead of 2024 Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump’s sentencing in his hush money payments case.

Verdict: False

According to VERIFY, the video shows members of the New York National Guard who monitor the transit system. In addition, on Sept. 7, CNN reported Trump’s sentencing had been delayed until November 26.

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The X video, viewed over five million times as of writing, claims the National Guard has been deployed to New York City ahead of Trump’s sentencing in his hush money payments case.

“They are staging the national guard [sic] because they are expecting so many cops to call out sick on September 18th so they don’t have to participate in the sentencing of Donald Trump by Judge Merchan,” the video’s caption reads in part. “National Guard is being stationed near the court house in case police refuse to transport Donald Trump to Rikers Island,” it continues.

The video, which shows National Guard members in Brooklyn, was re-posted on X by investigative journalist Laura Loomer.

The claim is false. Check Your Fact conducted a keyword search using the terms “National Guard” and “New York City,” which led us to a March 2024 article from The Washington Post. The article indicates New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul announced both National Guard members and state troopers would be deployed to New York City’s subway system to help combat crime. According to the same article, the National Guard members and state troopers would be deployed to the “city’s busiest stations to check bags for weapons.”

Likewise, VERIFY debunked the claim, stating the video showed guardsmen who are part of the “Joint Task Force Empire Shield, which is headquartered in Brooklyn” monitoring the transit system. In addition, on Sept. 7, CNN reported Trump’s sentencing in his hush money payments case had been delayed until Nov. 26. (RELATED: No, A Real KKK Member Did Not Show Up To A Recent Trump Rally)

Furthermore, Hochul does not appear to have publicly commented on the claim.

Check Your Fact has contacted Hochul’s office for comment.

Christine Sellers

Fact Check Reporter

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