Trump ordering National Guard to fight crime in Baltimore, calls city "a hellhole"
President Trump on Tuesday said he will be deploying the National Guard to Baltimore in an effort to fight crime, despite objections from state and city leaders.
During a press conference on Tuesday, the president also said he is ordering federal intervention in Chicago.
Mr. Trump didn't say when the National Guard would be deployed to either city.
"Chicago is a hellhole right now, Baltimore is a hellhole right now," Mr. Trump said. "We have a right to do it because I have an obligation to do it to protect this country, and that includes Baltimore."
The White House recently shared an article by U.S. News and World Report that showed Baltimore ranks as the fourth worst in the nation in crime and murders, behind St. Louis, Oakland, and Memphis.
"We have made tremendous strides in reducing crime in this city," Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said. "We are not satisfied. We want to keep that work going, but we do not need or want the National Guard in Baltimore to do that."
A spokesperson for Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said the use of the National Guard for municipal policing is "theatrical and not sustainable."
"For all Marylanders, I want you to know that there is nothing I would not do to keep you safe," the governor said Wednesday, acknowledging the president's remarks on crime. "To all Marylanders, I want you to know that we have met this moment of crisis with courage, because I am very clear that under my predecessor, we had a violence crisis."
Gov. Moore invited Trump to Baltimore
The announcement came after days of back and forth between Mr. Trump and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore over crime in Baltimore.
In a letter, the governor invited Mr. Trump to visit the city for a public safety walk at a day and time of his choosing.
The president responded by telling Moore to "clean up this crime disaster" before he considers coming to Baltimore.
"As he stated in his letter, the Governor welcomes a conversation about public safety that builds upon the progress of our current strategy, which has reduced violence and brought homicides in Baltimore to levels not seen in 50 years," the governor's office stated Tuesday. "We know there is more work to be done, and are committed to doing it."
Mr. Trump said in recent remarks that Baltimore was "so far gone," as far as crime is concerned, which prompted responses from Gov. Moore and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott.
"This is the latest effort by the president to distract from the issues he should be focused on — including the roller coaster of the U.S. economy thanks to his policies," the mayor said in a statement. "When it comes to public safety in Baltimore, he should turn off the right-wing propaganda and look at the facts. Baltimore is the safest it's been in over 50 years."
Gov. Moore previously described the president's comments as "insults from the Oval Office."
"While the President is spending his time from the Oval Office making jabs and attacks at us, there are people actually on the ground doing the work who know what supports would actually work to continue to bring down crime. But it's falling on deaf ears of the President of the United States," Moore said.
The president posted on the social media platform Truth Social that Baltimore is "out of control" and "crime-ridden."
"Stop talking and get to work, Wes," Mr. Trump wrote. "I'll then see you on the streets!!!"
Baltimore's historic crime decline
Gov. Moore and Mayor Scott defended Baltimore's historic decline in crime.
On Monday, the mayor said there has been a 29.5% drop in homicides and a 21% drop in nonfatal shootings compared to this time in 2024.
In August, the city recorded seven homicides, the lowest recorded total for the month, which is historically one of the deadliest of the year, according to data from the mayor's office.
As of September 1, Baltimore police have responded to 91 homicides and 218 nonfatal shootings in 2025. This is the fewest homicides that Baltimore has seen during the first eight months of the year in over 50 years, according to the mayor.
"If there's anything Maryland has proven over the last two years, it's that we can achieve performance without being performative," Gov. Moore said. "Progress requires the right tool for the right mission. Asking the patriotic citizen soldiers of our National Guard to police our cities doesn't meet that test."
Mr. Trump disputed Gov. Moore's claim about a decline in crime.
"Wes Moore's record on Crime is a very bad one, unless he fudges his figures on crime like many of the other 'Blue States' are doing," the president said.
Mayor Scott recently told WJZ that the city doesn't need the help of the National Guard. Rather, he wants the president to send more federal law enforcement resources to Baltimore, including increasing federal agents to work with the city's police department.
"We know that the National Guard is not the way," Scott said. "That's not what those soldiers signed up to do."
Scott also credited the city's Group Violence Reduction Strategy (GVRS) for the decline in the crime rate.
"Too many people in our communities, too many police officers, too many community violence intervention workers and folks have put their lives on the line each and every day to make the city a safer place," Scott said. "As safe as it's been in my lifetime."
National Guard sent to Washington, D.C.
In August, Mr. Trump moved to federalize the District of Columbia's Metropolitan Police Department and deployed the National Guard in the district to assist law enforcement, despite data showing crime has declined in the federal district in recent years.
The president said the crime issue, "directly impacts the functioning of the federal government and is a threat to America." He also questioned what he called "phony numbers" on crime in D.C.
According to local police data, violent crime in D.C. has been on the decline after spiking in 2023. As of mid-August, violent crime was down 26%.
Nearly 2,000 National Guard members are stationed in the nation's capital.
Gov. Moore said on "Face The Nation" that the deployment in D.C. is "not scalable," and said "you're not going to be able to do this in every single major American city."
The governor said that the crackdown on crime in the district is "not sustainable," "deeply disrespectful" to the National Guard, and "unconstitutional."
"There is a multitude of reasons that I am against this, and I will not authorize the Maryland National Guard to be utilized for this," Moore said.
Baltimore residents split on federal intervention
Baltimore residents are split on what should be done in the city.
Some told WJZ that the city does not need federal law enforcement or troops, citing decreasing violent crime numbers. Other residents said they feel this is targeting minority communities.
"I think this is another version of the War on Drugs. I think everyone really knows that. The darker the berry, the bigger the target. I think we're seeing that right now," Baltimore resident Khalil Bishop said. "I think this just puts a lot of people in danger, because just their presence here will incite violence, which is unnecessary."
Other residents feel the National Guard could bring a change of pace to the city, including one man who was a victim of a violent assault last year.
John Berardi was walking home from getting pizza on a Saturday night in November 2024 when he says he was beaten with a metal pole by three juveniles. The incident was caught on camera.
Berardi was left with significant, permanent damage in his eye. He says he feels left behind by Baltimore City, the state, and the police department, who he says have not made any arrests in his case and won't answer his calls.
The National Guard could bring more manpower, which Berardi says could make people feel safer.
"You hear crime is down, crime is down. That's the storyline, but people aren't going outside after dark because they're afraid," Berardi said. "Homicides are down, but quality of life crimes are way up through the roof, and juvenile crime is terrible. It's definitely a change and something that actually deters crime, which we have none of today."
Maryland, Baltimore leaders react
Maryland and Baltimore leaders responded Tuesday to the president declaring that the National Guard will be deployed to Baltimore.
Mayor Scott was live on WJZ News at 6 p.m., stating that Baltimore does not want the federal intervention.
The mayor said there are other ways for the federal government to help fight crime in Baltimore, such as restoring funding for community violence intervention work, passing a federal ban on ghost guns and Glock switches, and repealing the Tiahrt Amendment, which prohibits cities from tracking down those who are trafficking weapons.
Mayor Scott said the city's initiative to combat crime is working.
"Let's be clear, one life is one too many, and our work isn't done," Scott said. "But we've already outlined the policies and practices that have the ability to support our work, and they don't include deploying the National Guard."
Mayor Scott also said that the city and state could pursue legal options if the federal government follows through with deploying the National Guard.
Senator Chris Van Hollen said Mr. Trump should "stop playing political games with federal law enforcement."
"We've already worked successfully to increase the presence of FBI, DEA, and ATF agents in Baltimore and, by working in coordination with the Mayor and local law enforcement, we have made important progress in strengthening public safety," Sen. Van Hollen said. "There is certainly more work ahead, and we always welcome additional federal resources to reinforce local efforts, but Trump's threats to invade our cities are not the answer."
Maryland Rep. Andy Harris agreed with the president's assessment on crime in Baltimore.
"Democrat-run cities like Chicago and Baltimore are drowning in crime," Harris said. "It's time to enforce the law and restore order in our cities."
The Maryland Freedom Caucus encouraged the president to step in, while criticizing Gov. Moore.
"If President Trump is willing to step in and help protect our nation's capital, then Governor Wes Moore should be willing to work across the aisle to protect the citizens of Maryland," the Maryland Freedom Caucus said in a statement. "Public safety must come before politics."
Maryland leaders ask Trump to reconsider
Maryland congressmen Kweisi Mfume and Johnny Olszewski wrote a letter to Mr. Trump, urging him to reconsider plans to deploy federal troops to Baltimore.
The congressmen, in the joint letter, said that a 30% decline in murders and a 21% decline in non-fatal shootings is proof enough that the state and city are making progress without the need for the National Guard.
"Baltimore is experiencing its safest period in more than 50 years," the congressmen wrote, "in part, thanks to community-based initiatives and targeted investments in programs that build trust between Baltimoreans and local law enforcement."
Mfume and Olszewski say that federal partnerships are needed when appropriate, but the primary law enforcement efforts should be left to the local municipalities.
"They are on the front lines every day — deeply connected to the community, its people, and its unique challenges," the lawmakers said. "This is precisely why federal law places clear limits on the use of military forces for domestic policing."
Olszewski and Mfume then asked the president to reject any thoughts of intervening with federal troops.
"Therefore, this proposed deployment of federal troops, in our opinion, would be unnecessary," the congressmen stated. "We respectfully ask that you reconsider any plans to deploy federal troops into our communities and instead support local leaders in pursuing solutions rooted in justice, accountability, and peace."