Wes Moore says Trump's rhetoric on crime is "purely performative" as president offers to send troops to Baltimore
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Trump Threatens Military Deployment to Baltimore
Above: Maryland Gov. Wes Moore onstage during the 2025 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture on July 6, 2025. Image copyright: Arturo Holmes/Getty Images/ESSENCE
The Spin
Democratic narrative
Trump's threat to deploy troops to Baltimore represents an unconstitutional abuse of federal power targeting yet another city with a large Black population and a Black mayor. Moore has challenged Trump to see the actual progress being made for himself. But the president instead opted for a social media response threatening military action and a refusal to walk the streets, showing his disconnect from reality.
Republican narrative
Trump's approach to stopping crime in Washington has been a success. So it stands to reason he would use the same strategy in other crime-ridden cities where Democratic leaders have failed their residents, many of whom are people of color. Moore's invitation was provocative posturing rather than a genuine call for cooperation, so the White House will do what has to be done with or without Moore's help.