Residents of Maryland, particularly in high-crime urban areas, are expressing widespread support for President Donald Trump’s plan to deploy National Guard troops to Baltimore to combat increasing violence and crime. During an extensive ‘man-on-the-street’ interview conducted by former CNN anchor Don Lemon, many neighborhood residents appeared to favor federal intervention, citing their frustration with local authorities and government programs failing to address the crisis. The sentiment was echoed in the form of a viral video in which a woman recounted how her husband was murdered in a carjacking in front of their home, with no justice served for the perpetrator.
Support for Trump’s proposed crackdown was further reflected in comments from a Trump-backing man who described the escalating violence as ‘out of hand.’ He lamented the lack of effective crime prevention measures and expressed hope that the National Guard could act as a deterrent and bring order to the streets. While some residents, like a man dressed in Muslim garb heading to Friday Jummah prayers, supported the idea, they also acknowledged the challenges in addressing the root causes of crime, including systemic issues and drug addiction.
Mayor Muriel Bowser, initially critical of the federal intervention in Washington, D.C., has since admitted to its positive impact, stating that the deployment of troops has significantly reduced carjackings in the city. This has led to speculation about whether similar measures might be applied to other cities grappling with high crime rates. Trump’s own rhetoric has reinforced this possibility, with him describing both Baltimore and Chicago as ‘hellholes’ and asserting his duty to ‘protect this country.’ While the effectiveness of such a strategy remains debated, the growing public support for Trump’s approach has intensified the conversation around federal involvement in local law enforcement and public safety.