Days after deploying the National Guard to Washington DC, Donald Trump on Sunday warned that he could send federal troops into Baltimore. The move is part of his broader push to portray Democratic-run cities as unsafe while campaigning on law and order.
Trump calls Baltimore “out of control”
Trump described Baltimore as an “out of control, crime-ridden” city and aimed his criticism at Maryland Governor Wes Moore. Their clash has intensified in recent weeks.
Posting on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “If Wes Moore needs help, like Gavin Newscum did in LA, I will send in the ‘troops,’ which is being done in nearby DC, and quickly clean up the Crime.”
Guard presence in Washington and Los Angeles
Earlier this month, Trump ordered National Guard patrols in Washington DC. Critics saw it as a federal takeover of the city’s policing. Reports suggest that Guard units there will soon be allowed to carry firearms.
This follows Trump’s June decision to send nearly 5,000 troops to Los Angeles during protests over immigration raids. California Governor Gavin Newsom strongly opposed the deployment.
Now, US media reports indicate that his administration is preparing for a possible troop presence in Chicago, sparking pushback from Democrats.
Moore pushes back at Trump
Governor Wes Moore responded sharply to Trump’s remarks. He invited the former president to walk with him in Baltimore to see the reality on the ground, dismissing Trump’s claims as “blissful ignorance” and “1980 scare tactics.”
On X, Moore added a dig: “Hey Donald, we can get you a golf cart if that makes things easier.”
Trump, in return, said he would “much prefer that he clean up this Crime disaster before I go there for a ‘walk,’” accusing Moore of having a “very bad” record.
Moore defended his leadership, noting that crime has been falling in the state. “The last time the homicide rate was this low in Baltimore City, I was not born yet,” he said, pointing to a more than 20 percent drop in homicides since he took office.
Talk of deployments in Chicago and New York
While the Pentagon has not confirmed any deployment plans for Chicago, Trump told reporters that both Chicago and New York could be next. “We’re going to make our cities very, very safe. I think Chicago will be our next and then we’ll help with New York,” he said.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson immediately rejected the proposal. Pritzker wrote on X, “Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans are trying to paint their party as one of ‘law and order.’ That couldn’t be further from the truth.”
Crime statistics
Despite Trump’s claims, official data shows a decline in violent crime. Chicago reported 573 homicides in 2024, marking an 8 percent decrease from the previous year, according to the city’s police department.