National Guard says donations not needed — the troops were just napping

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The troops are just fine, thank you.

The National Guard is saying thanks, but no thanks, to the generous donations that have been pouring in after photos emerged Wednesday of troops sleeping on the hard marble floors of the Capitol.

The troops in the photograph were just taking a breaktime nap, Guard leaders explained, and actually have ample accomodations in local hotel rooms.

“In response to photos on social media and in the press today showing National Guardsmen resting in between shifts at the Capitol, many well-meaning and thoughtful citizens are organizing collection of comfort items for National Guard men and women who are in the District of Columbia in support of the upcoming presidential inauguration,” a statement from the National Guard said.

While we appreciate the many offers and people who care about our soldiers and airmen, we are not logistically able to accept donations of any kind.”

The photos actually show troops “on-duty, in a designated rest area between shifts,” the statement said.

“Again, thank you for caring about your citizen-soldiers and airmen.”

Many who viewed the photos of sleeping troops mistakenly thought that the more than 15,000 Guard members assigned to protect the Capitol were being housed inside the complex itself.

The troops, who are preparing for President-elect Joe Biden’s Jan. 20 inauguration, were just napping while on break during their 12-hour duty shifts, Military.com noted Wednesday.

The troops have been deployed from Maryland, Virginia, New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania in the wake of the Jan. 6 siege of the Capitol by pro-Trump protesters.

They have been authorized to carry lethal weapons, Military.com noted on Tuesday.

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