(DCNF)—Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Monday on Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle” that members of the National Guard will have “broad latitude” in the authorization that they use in Washington, D.C., but they will not involve themselves in “law enforcement functions.”
President Donald Trump announced Monday that he is deploying the National Guard to the nation’s capital to combat crime. Ingraham asked Hegseth if the National Guard will be “detaining Americans on American soil.”
“Under Title 32, which is the authorization they’ll be using, they have broad latitude. But they’re not going to be involved in law enforcement functions. They will be standing right alongside our federal agents like they were in Los Angeles,” Hegseth said. “They’re going to be proactive. If you take an action or a shot at them, there will be a consequence.”
Trump — joined by administration officials including Hegseth, Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel — spoke to reporters, saying that D.C. would be under a “public safety emergency.” The decision to deploy the National Guard into D.C. comes after Trump floated the idea during a Wednesday press briefing following the brutal beating of a former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) member.
Ingraham asked Hegseth what National Guardsmen will do if they witness a crime being committed. The defense secretary said that they would be able to come alongside and “assist law enforcement,” prompting Ingraham to ask, “what if law enforcement isn’t on that corner?”
“I will have their back to ensure they can take the necessary action to protect citizens of D.C. and to protect themselves. So there’s no rogue law enforcement going on from the National Guard, but there’s also the application of common sense,” Hegseth said. “We’re not going to have National Guardsmen sitting there like this, seeing a crime committed, and not do something about it.”
“You can help somebody interdict, temporarily detain, like we did in Los Angeles, and hand over to law enforcement,” Hegseth added. “Those are the types of things the National Guard can be trained to do.”
While Democrats and legacy media pundits have said that the city’s crime has decreased 35% in 2024, citing local police data, the statistics leave out crimes such as felony and aggravated assault. In July, Metropolitan Police Department officials said an investigation was opened against D.C. police Commander Michael Pulliam for allegedly altering crime statistics in his district, according to NBC Washington.
The announcement from Trump follows a Truth Social post Tuesday in which the president called out crime in D.C. and highlighted a recent attack victim. While not naming the victim, Trump posted a photo of a man sitting on the floor covered in blood.
According to an MPD report obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation, former DOGE member Edward Coristine, also known online as “Big Balls,” had been with another individual, who was a woman, on Aug. 3 as they stood near her vehicle.
Coristine told officials he saw the suspects approach. According to MPD’s press release, the suspects demanded the woman’s vehicle. Concerned for her safety, the DOGE member pushed the woman into the vehicle before turning to confront the suspects.
As police arrived and Coristine was being attacked, officials said about 10 suspects fled. Two were later arrested: a 15-year-old male and a 15-year-old female from Hyattsville, Md., both charged with unarmed carjacking.
The brutal beating of the former DOGE staffer comes after Republican intern Eric Tarpinian-Jachym was fatally shot in the city on June 30, and two Israeli Embassy staff members were gunned down near the Capital Jewish Museum on May 22.
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Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
When keeping metals in a home safe or private vault, liquidity and efficiency count. Bullion offers clear benefits:
- You acquire more actual gold or silver per dollar invested. Numismatics divert a large share of your money into rarity premiums and massive sales commission, reducing your metal exposure.
- Selling bullion involves tight bid-ask spreads, so you recover nearly full spot value with minimal fees. Collectibles require finding the right buyer and may sell at a discount if demand for that specific item weakens.
- Bullion prices remain transparent and update with global spot markets. You can track gold near current levels or silver accordingly and know exactly where your holdings stand. Numismatic values are priced by the Gold IRA companies with hefty margins applied.
- Standardized coins and bars store efficiently and divide easily for partial sales. Rare coins often need protective slabs and controlled conditions, adding hassle and expense.
- Bullion enjoys worldwide acceptance. A 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf or Silver Eagle sells quickly to dealers anywhere. Niche numismatic pieces may appeal only to limited buyers, slowing liquidation when speed matters.
In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.
The only thing that will fix the crime problem in DC is either a change in the feral savage demographic or a change from the inept Dimocrat management. Since they both go hand in hand, I can’t see that ever happening.