President Donald Trump said Sunday that he would send the National Guard to Baltimore to ‘quickly clean up the crime’ if Maryland Gov. Wes Moore says he needs help. Moore had earlier invited Trump to attend a public safety walk in the crime-ridden city in September, saying in an Aug. 21 letter that the event would provide an opportunity to ‘discuss strategies for effective public safety policy.’
Trump wrote in a Truth Social post that he would ‘much prefer that he clean up this crime disaster before I go there for a walk,’ and accused Moore of having a poor record on crime ‘unless he fudges his figures on crime like many of the other Blue States are doing.’ He added that he did not appreciate the tone of Moore’s invitation.
The Chicago mayor called Trump’s National Guard deployment plan ‘uncoordinated, uncalled-for, and unsound,’ highlighting the potential for negative consequences. Moore’s office reiterated its call for Trump to visit Baltimore, stating that the city has recorded its lowest homicide level in fifty years.
Earlier this month, Trump’s administration rolled out a plan aimed at making Washington, D.C., ‘safer and more beautiful’ as his administration doubles down on efforts to address crime and a growing homeless population in the nation’s capital. Trump has repeatedly characterized Washington, D.C., as ‘one of the most dangerous cities anywhere in the world,’ and officials have sought to curb crime by deploying hundreds of federal agents and National Guard troops to patrol the streets.
On Friday, Trump said he was considering sending the National Guard to Chicago, calling the Windy City ‘a mess.’ He said that his administration will ‘straighten that one out probably next,’ adding that ‘it won’t even be tough.’ The White House has not offered additional details of a potential deployment of troops to Chicago.