After Chicago, NYC, Trump turns to Baltimore amid federal crackdown
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The US president has threatened to send National Guard troops to Baltimore, clashing with Governor Wes Moore as he expands his federal crackdown.
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District of Columbia National Guard soldiers walk along the National Mall in Washington on Aug. 18, 2025. (Nina Cortez/US Army)
US President Donald Trump has escalated his threats to expand federal deployments, warning on Sunday that he may send National Guard troops into Baltimore.
The move would mirror recent operations in Washington and other Democratic-led cities, which Trump has targeted as part of his broader federal crackdown on alleged crime and homelessness.
In a social media post, Trump criticized Maryland Governor Wes Moore, a Democrat, after Moore invited him to tour Baltimore to discuss public safety. Instead, Trump hinted at deploying troops, writing: “If Wes Moore needs help, like Gavin Newscum did in L.A., I will send in the ‘troops,’ which is being done in nearby DC, and quickly clean up the Crime.”
Governor Moore dismissed Trump’s comments, accusing him of ignoring Baltimore’s progress. “The president is spending all of his time talking about me. I’m spending my time talking about the people I serve,” Moore said on CBS’ Face the Nation.
Trump countered by accusing Moore of manipulating crime statistics, calling his record “very bad". The exchange reflects the president’s strategy of singling out Democratic governors and mayors in majority-minority cities as part of his law-and-order campaign.
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Expanding deployments beyond Washington
Trump has already deployed thousands of National Guard and federal officers into Washington, DC. He has suggested that Chicago and New York will be the next cities to see similar operations, citing rising concerns about crime and urban disorder.
The Washington Post reported that the Pentagon has been preparing for possible deployments in Chicago, which could include not only National Guard units but potentially active-duty forces. Trump confirmed this approach, telling reporters Friday, “I think Chicago will be our next. And then we’ll help with New York.”
Trump’s threats have drawn criticism from civil rights leaders, who argue his approach unfairly targets cities led by Black mayors. Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and Governor Moore are both Black, as are the mayors of Washington and New York.
Reverand Al Sharpton denounced the operations during a Sunday event at Howard University, saying, “This is about profiling us. This is laced with bigotry and racism.” He called the deployments a civil rights issue, linking them to the broader debate on DC statehood.
Pushback from Democratic leaders nationwide
Democratic officials nationwide have pushed back strongly against Trump’s use of federal force. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said there is no emergency warranting a Guard presence in Chicago.
“Donald Trump is attempting to manufacture a crisis, politicize Americans who serve in uniform, and continue abusing his power to distract from the pain he’s causing families,” Pritzker said. “We’ll continue to follow the law, stand up for the sovereignty of our state, and protect Illinoisans.”
