US President Donald Trump has threatened to deploy troops to Baltimore, escalating a clash with Maryland Governor Wes Moore after the Democrat invited him to join a safety walk in the city. 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, Trump wrote on social media. The comments mark the latest flashpoint in the president's efforts to deploy National Guard troops to Democratic-led cities as part of what he calls a crackdown on crime.
The use of military personnel for domestic law enforcement has drawn fierce backlash from Democrats. One governor described it as an abuse of power.
Trump has already deployed around 2,000 troops to Washington DC, a Democratic stronghold. On Sunday, the Guard started to carry weapons in the city upon military directive. A statement from the Joint Task Force said they were only intended for use as a last resort.
As many as 1,700 troops are expected to mobilise in 19 states in the upcoming weeks. Governor Moore, frequently critical of Trump's strategy, stated that the president's comments about tackling crime were tone deaf and ignorant. It's because they have not walked our streets, he said.
Following Trump's remarks, many Democratic leaders have condemned the potential deployment, including Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, who called Trump's threats to send troops to cities like Chicago an abuse of power. Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries also asserted Trump lacks the legal authority to dispatch troops in this manner, claiming the president is exploiting falling crime rates to create a false narrative about safety.
A recent poll indicated that nearly 80% of Baltimore's residents oppose the deployment of federal forces and the National Guard, alongside any takeover of the city's police department. Despite these concerns, Trump continues to propose military action in areas where he perceives crime as rising.
The use of military personnel for domestic law enforcement has drawn fierce backlash from Democrats. One governor described it as an abuse of power.
Trump has already deployed around 2,000 troops to Washington DC, a Democratic stronghold. On Sunday, the Guard started to carry weapons in the city upon military directive. A statement from the Joint Task Force said they were only intended for use as a last resort.
As many as 1,700 troops are expected to mobilise in 19 states in the upcoming weeks. Governor Moore, frequently critical of Trump's strategy, stated that the president's comments about tackling crime were tone deaf and ignorant. It's because they have not walked our streets, he said.
Following Trump's remarks, many Democratic leaders have condemned the potential deployment, including Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, who called Trump's threats to send troops to cities like Chicago an abuse of power. Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries also asserted Trump lacks the legal authority to dispatch troops in this manner, claiming the president is exploiting falling crime rates to create a false narrative about safety.
A recent poll indicated that nearly 80% of Baltimore's residents oppose the deployment of federal forces and the National Guard, alongside any takeover of the city's police department. Despite these concerns, Trump continues to propose military action in areas where he perceives crime as rising.
