ST. PAUL, Minn. — The build-up of troops to protect the District of Columbia from further pro-Trump violence will grow to 860 Minnesota Air and Army Guard soldiers by Inauguration Day. The state Air Guard’s chief of staff, Brigadier General Daniel Gabrielli, said that transportation was already underway. In all, 26,000 Guard soldiers from every state have been called up. Most of Washington is on lockdown. “It’s sad that we got to this state that we have to have all those troops out there, but it’s comforting to know as leaders that we have the very capable airmen and soldiers out there,” Gabrielli said. For previous inaugurations the states rotated Guard soldiers Fewer than 10 from Minnesota were at Trump’s inauguration in 2017, about 350 at Obama’s first in 2009.
