Trump Threatens Troop Deployments to Democratic Cities, Escalating Political Conflict
A deepening rift between President Donald Trump and Democratic leaders is fueling threats of expanded military deployments to major US cities, raising concerns about federal overreach and sparking protests.
President Donald Trump on Sunday threatened to expand military deployments to more Democratic-led cities, responding to an offer from Maryland Governor Wes Moore to join him on a tour of Baltimore by suggesting he might instead “send in the ‘troops.’” Last week, Trump indicated he was considering Chicago and New York for similar deployments to those already underway in the nation’s capital, where thousands of National Guard and federal law enforcement officers are currently patrolling the streets.
The escalating tensions stem from a dispute with Moore, a Democrat who has publicly criticized Trump’s use of federal power to address crime and homelessness in Washington. Moore last week extended an invitation to Trump to visit Maryland to discuss public safety and engage with the community firsthand.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump accused Moore of speaking “in a rather nasty and provocative tone” and alluded to repeating the National Guard deployment he authorized in Los Angeles, despite objections from California Governor Gavin Newsom. “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,” Trump wrote, referencing a frequent pejorative he uses for Newsom. “But 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.”
Moore countered that Trump’s actions are rooted in “blissful ignorance” regarding improvements in Baltimore’s crime rates. He highlighted a recent decline in violent crime, noting that the city reported 200 homicides last year – a 24% decrease from the previous year and a 42% drop since 2021. Overall violent crime decreased by nearly 8% and property crime by 20% between 2023 and 2024, according to city data.
“The president is spending all of his time talking about me,” Moore stated on CBS’s “Face the Nation” on Sunday. “I’m spending my time talking about the people I serve.” He further accused Trump of “spouting off a bunch of lies about public safety in Maryland” in a fundraising email.
The increased presence of National Guard troops and federal law enforcement in Washington has already triggered protests throughout the city. While some areas remain bustling, others have seen a noticeable quiet, with residents observing small groups of guardsmen. Videos circulating on social media document arrests and detentions.
Trump has publicly identified Chicago and New York as potential next targets, drawing strong opposition from Democratic leaders in both states. The Washington Post reported Saturday that the Pentagon has been preparing for a potential operation in Chicago involving National Guard troops and potentially active duty forces. The White House, when asked about the report, reiterated Trump’s stated desire to expand the use of military forces to combat local crime.
“I think Chicago will be our next,” Trump told reporters Friday, adding, “And then we’ll help with New York.” Trump has consistently characterized several of the nation’s largest cities – led by Democrats, with Black mayors and majority-minority populations – as “dangerous and filthy.” Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and Moore are both Black, as are the mayors of Washington D.C. and New York City.
The Rev. Al Sharpton, speaking at a religious event at Howard University in Washington on Sunday, argued that the Guard’s presence in the capital is not about addressing crime, but rather “about profiling us.” “This is laced with bigotry and racism,” he elaborated to reporters. “Not one white mayor has been designated. And I think this is a civil rights issue, a race issue, and an issue of D.C. statehood.”
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, a Democrat, asserted that there is no justification for deploying National Guard troops to 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 wrote on X. “We’ll continue to follow the law, stand up for the sovereignty of our state, and protect Illinoisans.”
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson stated the city does not require a “military occupation” and would pursue legal action to prevent one, emphasizing a lack of communication from the White House regarding any potential deployment. “We’re not going to surrender our humanity to this tyrant,” Johnson said Sunday on MSNBC. “I can tell you this, the city of Chicago has a long history of standing up against tyranny, resisting those who wish to undermine the interests of working people.”
[Placeholder for a chart comparing crime statistics in the cities Trump has targeted with national averages.]
The situation underscores a growing political divide and raises fundamental questions about the appropriate role of the federal government in local law enforcement.
