Baltimore, Maryland – Former U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to deploy National Guard troops in Baltimore, saying the move may be necessary to curb rising crime in the city.
Trump’s remarks are expected to heighten tensions with Maryland’s Democratic Governor Wes Moore. Just days earlier, Moore had invited Trump to join a community “safety walk” aimed at promoting public security. In a post on social media, Trump wrote, “If Wes Moore needs help, just as Gavin Newsom did in Los Angeles, I’ll send in the troops and we’ll quickly restore order.”
The possible use of the National Guard for domestic law enforcement has sparked controversy, with Democratic leaders accusing Trump of abusing presidential powers. Trump, however, insists the measure would be solely aimed at fighting crime.
According to U.S. media reports, nearly 1,700 National Guard members may be deployed across 19 states in the coming weeks.
Sources: NBC News, CBS News, BBC, AP.