Trump Threatens Military Deployment in Baltimore Amid Rising Tensions with Maryland Governor

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to deploy federal troops to Baltimore, Maryland, in what he describes as an effort to "crack down on crime." The move has sparked widespread controversy and further escalated tensions between Trump and Maryland’s Democratic Governor Wes Moore.

The threat came just days after Governor Moore invited the President to participate in a local “Safety Walk” aimed at promoting community-based security efforts. Instead of accepting the invitation, Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to issue a veiled warning.

“If Wes Moore needs help — just like Gavin Newsom did in Los Angeles — I will send in the troops,” Trump wrote. “Just like we did in Washington, D.C., we’ll crush crime swiftly.”

This statement has sparked criticism from Democratic leaders across the country, who see the threat as part of a broader pattern of federal overreach. Governor Moore responded sharply, calling the threat “ignorant and disconnected from the reality on the ground.”

“They don’t walk our streets. They don’t know our people,” Moore said. “They continue to spread false narratives about our cities for political gain.”

Troops Already Deployed to D.C.

President Trump has already deployed nearly 2,000 National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., citing the need to restore order in what he previously called a “hellhole.” The White House claims that the deployment has led to hundreds of arrests and has made the city “completely safe.”

Pentagon officials confirmed that these troops, initially unarmed, have now been authorized to carry weapons, though they have yet to actively engage in law enforcement operations. Instead, they are currently stationed near key government buildings.

Reports suggest that similar deployments may soon take place in other Democratic-led cities, including New York and Chicago. Democratic leaders in those cities have expressed strong opposition, accusing Trump of abusing his presidential powers.

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker described the threat to deploy troops to Chicago as “an outright abuse of power.” Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries echoed the sentiment, saying, “There is no legal basis for federal troops in Baltimore or Chicago.”

Jeffries also pointed to declining crime rates in Baltimore, stating, “This is the lowest homicide rate the city has seen in 50 years. Trump is manufacturing a crisis that doesn’t exist.”

Public Opinion Divided

Despite Trump’s claims of success, public sentiment tells a different story. A joint poll conducted by The Washington Post and the Schar School earlier this week found that nearly 80% of D.C. residents oppose the deployment of federal and National Guard troops in their city.

The data contradicts Trump’s justification for military presence. Violent crime in Washington, D.C., has fallen significantly in recent years. In 2024, the city recorded its lowest crime rate in three decades, and early 2025 data indicates a continued downward trend — with violent crime down 26% and robbery down 28% compared to the same period last year.

Still, Trump has suggested that troop deployments could expand, despite mounting legal and political challenges. The President insists that his administration is simply taking necessary action to restore law and order in what he describes as “out-of-control” urban areas.