BALTIMORE — President Donald Trump[R] and Maryland Governor Wes Moore[D] have taken to social media in recent weeks to debate crime levels in Maryland. The two politicians have a specific interest in Baltimore following President Trump’s recent order stationing the National Guard in Washington, D.C.
This week, during an Oval Office press conference, the President reiterated his plans for deploying the National Guard in Baltimore and Chicago to help reduce crime.
Leading up to that moment this week, Moore posted a message to the President on X, extending an invitation to walk the streets of Baltimore.
“We wanted to send you a formal invitation to join @MayorBMScott, @BaltimoreSAO, our local electeds, law enforcement, and community for a public safety walk next month. Whatever date works best for you!” Moore said on August 21st. “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.”
In a clip posted to the WBFF Fox45 Baltimore YouTube channel, President Trump explained that he’d like to walk with Moore one day, but only once violent crime is lowered in Maryland’s most populous city.
“I want to walk with you too someday, but first you’ve got to clean up your crime. I’m not walking in Baltimore right now; Baltimore is a hellhole,” he said in response to Moore’s message.
Moore previously had posted on social media about violent crime in Baltimore. He noted that the city’s homicide rate has reduced significantly over the last couple of years.
“Under our (Democratic) leadership, Baltimore has now had one of the fastest drops in violent crime in decades. Current data shows that homicides statewide are down by more than 20% and homicides in Baltimore are at a 50-year low since we took office,” Moore posted on August 13th.
Statistics from The Baltimore Sun map out the decline in homicides since 2021. While there were approximately 330 homicides per year between 2019 and 2022, homicides totaled 262 in 2023 and 202 in 2024. The numbers are currently on track to be even lower in 2025, with 89 homicides reported this year.
The Maryland 2023 Uniform Crime Report, although reporting slightly different numbers from The Baltimore Sun, also confirms that murder rates have declined in Baltimore City over the past several years (see the breakdown below):
- 2019: 348
- 2020: 334
- 2021: 329
- 2022: 319
- 2023: 244
The report also details that while the murder rate has declined statewide from 2019-2023, the violent crime rate and total crime index have increased statewide over that same time, by 6.6% and 18.2%, respectively.
Key Bridge Funding At Risk?
The debate surrounding crime in Baltimore isn’t the only focus of the political tension in the region. President Trump has also suggested that he may reconsider federal funding previously granted towards the Francis Scott Key Bridge’s reconstruction.
Some might recall the deadly ship crash that took down the bridge in March of 2024. Congress has since earmarked federal dollars for the bridge replacement, which is expected to be completed in 2028 at a cost of over $1.7 billion.
However, President Trump posed threats to future portions of that funding during the course of the social media arguments with Moore.
“… Also, I gave Wes Moore a lot of money to fix his demolished bridge. I will now have to rethink that decision???,” Trump posted to Truth Social on August 24th, following a tirade specifically on Baltimore’s crime and his plans not to visit.
Following President Trump’s Truth Social post, Moore responded on social media, escalating tensions between the two politicians.
“President Bone Spurs will do anything to get out of walking – even if that means spouting off more lies about the progress we’re making on public safety in Maryland,” Moore posted. “Hey Donald, we can get you a golf cart if that makes things easier. Just let my team know.”
Moore later posted that he doesn’t believe the National Guard is a long-term solution to growing crime concerns, posting, “Deploying the National Guard for municipal policing purposes is not sustainable, scalable, constitutional, or respectful.”
Moore would go on to tell WBALTV11 that federal funding for the Key Bridge will remain intact, since Congress is responsible for its authorization.
“The bridge funding doesn’t come from the president; it comes from Congress. Congress authorized the capital, so Congress is the only one with the authority to pull it away. I am still in touch with Democrats and the Republicans who voted for it,” Moore said.
Similar to the previous congressional funding, which was requested, approved, and signed into law by Former President Joe Biden[D], a future funding bill that could include additional necessary funding would also likely require a presidential signature. It is unclear what control the president has over the previously approved aid funding, if any.
Although the National Guard hasn’t been deployed to Baltimore or Chicago yet, as clashes continue with Moore, President Trump changed his tone toward certainty this past Tuesday.
“We’re going in,” he said to reporters. “I didn’t say when… We’re going in.”
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just saw pictures of The Governor in ITALY on George Clooney’s yacht!
’nuff said.
He went to Italy on his own dime… and it’s not like he was on Epstein’s yacht… ‘nuff said.
Hahah, on his own dime… Yah ok, you’re delusional if you think that.
Tax More is a Joke of a governor..
omalley was a better governor even if he had his raintax.
i just love reading the popcorn chats between a real president and some conman!
Moore is a joke, and everyone knows it..he has done nothing for Md…
No, Marylands not worth what you pay to be here.
ok, thats on the record. what are they clashing about off the record? Marylands close enough to DC that they could pay each other a visit.
why are the words republican democrat on our ballot in Maryland? Would Marylanders be beside themselves if they had to vote + they didn’t know which 1s were R + which 1s were D? Still no write- ins for the Primary. Lets get to know the candidates 1st, please + whether they’re R or D 2nd. Theres no definition for either 1 in MD.
No he didn’t go on his own dime if you know how politicians operate their daily and personal lives and the protections you would know that but you can keep pretending, but what happens when internet goes dead and you can’t log into Facebook for your news anymore
Md. Dime bet you a dollar liar
Why homicide rates are declining? By not recording them as often as they happen.
Remember, the governor said hed leave no one behind. Has he left anyone behind?