WASHINGTON, DC—President Donald Trump labeled Baltimore a “hellhole” during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, intensifying a heated war of words with Maryland Gov. Wes Moore over crime and public safety in the city. The remarks, made while addressing Moore’s invitation for Trump to join a public safety walk in Baltimore, mark the latest escalation in a feud that has unfolded across social media and public appearances.
Trump’s comments came in response to Moore’s challenge last week, when the Democratic governor invited the president to visit Baltimore and see firsthand the efforts to reduce crime. Moore’s invitation followed Trump’s characterization of Baltimore as “so far gone” and “crime-ridden” during a press conference announcing a National Guard deployment to address crime in Washington, D.C.
“I’m not walking in Baltimore right now. Baltimore is a hellhole,” Trump said during the cabinet meeting, dismissing Moore’s invitation as having a “derogatory tone.” He added, “I said, ‘No, I’m the President of the United States, clean up your crime and I’ll walk with you.’” Trump also claimed that Moore, whom he met at the Army-Navy football game in December, called him “the greatest president of [his] lifetime,” a claim Moore swiftly mocked online.
Moore, Maryland’s first Black governor and a rising star in the Democratic Party, fired back on social media, referring to Trump as “President Bone Spurs” — a jab at Trump’s Vietnam War draft deferment — and offering to provide a golf cart to ease the president’s visit. “Donald Trump can stay obsessed with me – that’s fine – but I’ll stay obsessed with working in partnership to continue our historic success of driving down crime in Baltimore,” Moore wrote on X, linking to a CBS “Face the Nation” appearance where he defended his administration’s record.
The governor has touted significant reductions in violent crime, noting that Baltimore’s homicide rate is at its lowest in 50 years, with a more than 20% drop statewide since he took office in 2023. “The last time the homicide rate was this low in Baltimore City, I was not born yet,” Moore said on CBS, accusing Trump of relying on “1980s scare tactics” and “blissful ignorance.” However, Trump and his allies have pointed to statistics ranking Baltimore among the nation’s highest for violent crime and murders, citing a U.S. News and World Report article that places the city fourth worst in the nation for crime.
The feud has also drawn in Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, who rejected the idea of National Guard troops in the city but called for more federal law enforcement resources, including additional agents for the ATF, DEA, and FBI. Scott emphasized that Baltimore is experiencing its safest period in decades, citing police data showing a 17% drop in violent crime this year.
Trump’s rhetoric about Baltimore echoes his broader strategy of targeting Democratic-run cities, with the president threatening to expand National Guard deployments to cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York. He claimed on Truth Social that his D.C. deployment resulted in “no crime and no murder” after one week, a statement local officials have not corroborated. Moore has criticized the use of National Guard troops for municipal policing as unsustainable and unscalable, arguing it disrespects their training for emergencies and disasters.
Adding to the tension, Trump suggested he might reconsider federal funding for rebuilding the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which collapsed in March 2024 after a cargo ship collision, killing six people. Congress approved the funds in December, but Trump claimed on Truth Social, “I gave Wes Moore a lot of money to fix his demolished bridge. I will now have to rethink that decision???” Legal experts note that Trump cannot unilaterally freeze congressionally appropriated funds.
Moore, in an MSNBC “Morning Joe” interview Monday, renewed his call for Trump to visit Baltimore, highlighting progress in reducing vacant homes and violent crime. “We are seeing a resurgence that it would be great if the president would actually come and spend time and learn about what we are doing,” he said.
The back-and-forth has drawn criticism for its personal tone, with Moore’s supporters accusing Trump of relying on outdated stereotypes about Baltimore. The Maryland Freedom Caucus sparked further controversy by referring to Moore as the “Ghetto Governor” on X, prompting Democratic leaders to demand an apology for what they called racist name-calling. The caucus doubled down, mocking Moore’s invitation to Trump.
As the feud continues, Moore remains focused on local progress, while Trump’s remarks signal a broader push to frame Democratic-led cities as crime hotspots ahead of future elections. Neither side has indicated when, or if, the proposed public safety walk will take place.
The full video from Tuesday’s cabinet meeting can be viewed below.
