Donald Trump’s taking over the Washington D.C. police and calling up the National Guard should be seen for what it is: a consolidation of autocratic power.

The federal government has broad powers over the governance of Washington D.C., power that it doesn’t have elsewhere. It seems that this is a bit of a strategic retreat given the legal obstacles he faces over his use of the National Guard in Los Angeles. In DC, Trump can continue to solidify the idea that he’s free to use the American military on home soil.