Remember When?

The only time a president controls the National Guard is in the federal city of Washington DC or when he federalizes the guard under the Insurrection Act, which Trump has not done. @YLindaQiu https://t.co/pVk38X5GsU (2/2)

— Peter Baker (@peterbakernyt) September 2, 2020

Trump refused to invoke the Defense Production Act?

As usual with “this” General Motors, things just never seem to work out. They said they were going to give us 40,000 much needed Ventilators, “very quickly”. Now they are saying it will only be 6000, in late April, and they want top dollar. Always a mess with Mary B. Invoke “P”.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 27, 2020

For the longest time, that's as close as he got.  And he had to explain "P" meant the DPA.

So, now?  Same thing.  Trump will never invoke the Insurrection Act.  Why not?  For the same reason he put federal officials into Portland quietly, and just as quietly withdrew them:  he'd be responsible for the violence they commit.  He'd be responsible for what happens.  He'd especially be responsible if his use of force was as ineffective as it was in Portland.

And he doesn't dare risk that.

He'd rather bark, because he knows he has no bite.