BALTIMORE, MD—Maryland Governor Wes Moore and President Donald Trump exchanged sharp words over crime in Baltimore this week, with Moore challenging Trump to visit the city and Trump threatening to deploy federal troops while suggesting he might withhold funds for rebuilding the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge.
The feud escalated Sunday when Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that Moore should “clean up this Crime disaster” in Baltimore before expecting him to “walk the streets” there. Trump described Moore’s invitation as “nasty and provocative,” adding that Baltimore ranks as the fourth-worst city in the nation for crime and murder. He offered to send in federal “troops” if Moore “needs help,” comparing it to deployments in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles, and said he would “rethink” federal funding for the bridge that collapsed in March 2024.
Moore, a Democrat who became Maryland’s first Black governor in 2023, fired back earlier in the week during a speech at the demolition of Pimlico Race Course, saying Trump should “keep our name out of your mouth” in reference to Baltimore. He highlighted Maryland’s progress on crime, noting that homicides statewide have dropped more than 20% since he took office and that Baltimore is at a 50-year low for homicides.
“We’ve achieved one of the most impressive drops in violent crime anywhere in the country over the past two and a half years,” Moore said in a video statement.
The exchange began after Trump, in a White House address earlier this month, described Baltimore as “so far gone” due to crime while announcing plans to deploy National Guard troops to several major cities, including potentially Baltimore, as part of a national crime crackdown. Trump has repeatedly criticized Democratic-led cities, including Baltimore, which he once called a “rat and rodent infested mess” during his first term.
Moore responded by inviting Trump to join him, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and local officials for a public safety walk in the city next month to witness the improvements firsthand. “We hope you’ll come to see how we’ve built strong local partnerships and used data-backed solutions to deliver staggering drops in violent crime,” Moore wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
Moore has also pushed back against Trump’s use of the National Guard in D.C., stating he would not authorize Maryland’s Guard for missions he does not deem “mission critical.” In interviews, Moore accused Trump of using “scare tactics” and performative measures rather than addressing root causes.
Baltimore Mayor Scott, also a Democrat, called Trump’s comments a “distraction” and “dog whistling,” emphasizing that the city is safer than it has been in decades despite ongoing challenges with crime.
The back-and-forth comes amid Trump’s broader push to “beautify” and secure urban areas, including a recent deployment of Guard troops from several states to D.C., where he claimed crime has dropped significantly in a short time. Critics, including Moore, have questioned the effectiveness and cost of such federal interventions.
Neither the White House nor Moore’s office immediately responded to requests for further comment. The Key Bridge reconstruction, estimated to cost $1.9 billion, has received significant federal funding commitments from the Biden administration, which Trump has suggested he might review.
