Maryland’s Crime Issues: A Tension Between State Leadership and Federal Action

Governor Wes Moore of Maryland appears to be promoting a positive view of his state while attempting to minimize the severity of crime issues. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump isn’t convinced by the narrative put forward by Democrats.

On August 11, Trump made headlines by announcing federal support for the Washington Metropolitan Police, deploying the National Guard to the area.

FBI data indicates that Baltimore ranks as “the fifth highest for violent crime per capita” and has the fourth highest murder rate.

Amid criticism from Democrats and other left-leaning figures, this federal initiative seems to have yielded results. The first week reported a 19% drop in property crime and a 17% decrease in violent crime in DC. Interestingly, there were also reports of at least 10 consecutive days without a murder.

Trump has expressed intentions to enforce law and order in other cities struggling with crime, including Baltimore, which is home to under 570,000 people. An assessment indicates that certain neighborhoods in Baltimore are among the safest in the nation. Trump’s threats of federal intervention have not been well-received by Moore, who less than two weeks later criticized the president’s actions and suggested that Maryland and Baltimore had made significant strides in reducing crime.

In a letter to Trump dated August 21, Moore pointed to a 20% decrease in statewide murders since his tenure began two and a half years ago, as well as a 22% reduction in Baltimore during the first half of 2025. He also invited Trump to participate in “public safety walks” in Baltimore, emphasizing recent successes in murder rate reductions.

In the backdrop of this correspondence, Moore stated in a CBS News interview that he wouldn’t allow the Maryland State Guard to partake in Trump’s law and order initiatives, labeling the deployment of the National Guard as “unconstitutional.” He further accused Trump of being blissfully ignorant and resorting to outdated tactics.

Brandon Scott, Baltimore’s Democratic mayor, echoed Moore’s sentiments. He argued that Trump is pushing a misleading narrative about crime in Maryland and urged the former president to acknowledge the facts, declaring that Baltimore has seen improvements in safety over the past five decades.

Scott did, however, call for more resources for the city’s ATF, DEA, and FBI offices as a way to further address crime.

While Moore acknowledged Baltimore’s high violent crime rates, he dismissed Trump’s initiatives in DC as mere “performance” and not a genuine solution.

In a pointed response, Trump wrote on social media, challenging Moore to walk the streets of Maryland with him, suggesting that the governor’s crime statistics aren’t as favorable as he claims. Trump maintained that intervention might be necessary in Baltimore, akin to recent actions in DC, highlighting a week with no reported crimes or murders there.

“Stop talking and go to work, Wes. Then I’ll see you on the street!” Trump’s message underscored the ongoing tensions surrounding crime policies in Maryland.