In a recent disagreement, United States Former President Donald Trump and Maryland’s Governor, Wes Moore, have found themselves at odds. The tension arose as Trump hinted at the possibility of utilizing National Guard forces in major U.S. cities, Baltimore included, to combat high crime rates—a tactic previously seen in Washington, D.C. The exchange between Moore and Trump happened on a Sunday morning, sparked by Moore’s query on whether Trump would be comfortable navigating Maryland’s city streets with him.
Trump did not hold back in his critique of Moore’s performance as Governor. He questioned the very reliability of Moore’s crime reports, hinting at the possibility of the state’s crime figures being manipulated—a practice he insinuated is common in ‘Blue States.’ To add fuel to the fire, Trump also threatened to withdraw financial support for the repair of the Francis Scott Key Bridge which sustained damage after being hit by a wayward ship back in March 2024.
Trump has reportedly sent out the National Guard on two previous occasions to address internal domestic issues. The first instance was during protests in Los Angeles, where the execution of deportation initiatives by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was met with resistance. The second time was in Washington, D.C., which saw a general crackdown on crime. Both occasions created substantial controversy, with notable opposition from city mayors and the Governor of California, Gavin Newsom. Newsom even took the matter to court, challenging the administration’s decision.
Trump has hinted at further deployments of the National Guard in Democratic-led cities with high crime rates and homelessness issues. Among those mentioned were Chicago, Baltimore, New York City, Oakland, California, and potentially another deployment in Los Angeles. He was openly critical of Chicago’s condition under its current leadership, labeling the city as disorganized and its mayor grossly incompetent from his position in the Oval Office. He expressed his intent to rectify the situation in Chicago, intending it as the next city to receive support, followed by New York.
Governor Moore addressed Trump directly, urging him at a press conference to join the community in withstanding the current crime situation. He pointed out that Baltimore’s homicide rates have not been as high since before he was born and suggested that Trump should experience firsthand the reality on the ground. Come walk our streets, experience our communities, visit us.’, Moore insisted.
Explicitly calling out Trump, Moore argued that if the President was not willing to offer solutions, he should refrain from publically criticizing their community. In consecutive criticism, Moore stated: ‘If you are reluctant to understand the challenges and appreciate the uniqueness of our city, then refrain from discussing it unwarrantedly. Because if you took a step further, spent actual time here, and connected with our communities, you’d encounter a vibrant city, one of the utmost in our nation,’ was the Governor’s firm assertion.
Trump returned the sentiment with a post, labeling Moore’s sentiment as highly provocative and unpleasant. He depicted Baltimore’s current state as overwhelmed by crime and out of control. As President, he argued, it would make more sense for Moore to sort out the Crime catastrophe before inviting him for a ‘walk.’
In a further post, Trump stated that he would dispatch the ‘troops,’ like he did in L.A., to help clean up the situation on Moore’s behalf. He cited D.C.’s reduced crime rates and zero murder count within a week of the deployment to back his stance. Trump ultimately challenged Moore with a rather straightforward: ‘Stop conversing and begin working, Wes. Afterwards, we could go for that walk.’ He also mentioned the funds he previously granted for the bridge restoration, speculating a reconsideration of his decision.
In response, Governor Moore highlighted the grave state of crime which he inherited in Baltimore. He argued that, under his governance with federal and state-backed investments up to $50 million directed solely to Baltimore City. These investments positioned Maryland as one of the few states that support U.S. Attorney funding from their own balance sheets. This unusual approach led to many firearm-related crimes being escalated to federal charges, which he said had very promising outcomes.
Moore was proud to share that these measures resulted in Maryland experiencing one of the swiftest reductions in violent crime rates nationwide for the last two years. He mentioned a significant 20% drop in homicide rates since his tenure as Governor began. The last time the state’s homicide rates were as low as they now stand, Moore stated that he hadn’t been born yet, illustrating the significance of the improvement.
Amid the discussion, the TV host pointed out that Trump’s reference to Baltimore’s crime data was based on FBI reports. These reports ranked Baltimore fourth in U.S. cities in terms of murder rates, calculating approximately 34.8 homicides per 100, 000 residents. Furthermore, she indicated that Trump failed to mention cities with higher homicide rates like Jackson, Mississippi; Memphis, Tennessee; and Birmingham, Alabama — as from 2024 data — contrary to Baltimore. She further detailed how Governor Bill Lee of Tennessee had deployed National Guard troops to Washington, yet Memphis didn’t receive the same treatment.
Governor Moore acknowledged that improvements were still needed. He said: ‘We know there’s more work to do. If just a single person feels unsafe in their neighborhood, then it’s one too many.’ He stressed that they were focused on proven strategies for effective public safety, dismissing tactics which only served theatrics.
Echoing a similar sentiment was Baltimore’s Mayor, Brandon Scott, who issued a statement earlier this month criticizing the President for diverting attention from pressing national issues. He referred to the fluctuating economy as a result of Trump’s administration as one of them. Mayor Scott proudly declared Baltimore the safest it had been in over half a century. He continued to highlight the significant 28% reduction in homicides rates this year, lauding it as a historic low. The Mayor concluded by emphasizing the work they had ahead, which they would focus on alongside state and federal partners.
The post Trump and Maryland Governor at Odds Over Idea to Combat Crime appeared first on Real News Now.
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