President Donald Trump is rolling out the big guns, quite literally, with plans to send National Guard troops into Chicago and Baltimore to tackle what he sees as rampant crime.
The Daily Mail reported that Trump’s latest move comes on the heels of a federal takeover of Washington, D.C.’s police force last month, with similar interventions now targeting these two major cities despite pushback from local Democratic leaders and data showing declining crime rates.
For months, Trump warned of federal action in D.C. as high-profile crime incidents grabbed headlines. Then, after a violent attack on a former DOGE staffer by teenage carjackers, he declared a public safety emergency in the nation’s capital.
The incident led to the arrest of two 15-year-olds and set the stage for drastic measures.
Last month, under the Home Rule Act, Trump took control of D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department, deploying 800 National Guard troops from across the country to patrol the streets. He’s hailed this as a roaring success, claiming the city is now a “safe zone” with “no crime.”
“It’s now a safe zone,” Trump boasted, painting a picture of a crime-free capital. But let’s pump the brakes—D.C. had a week without a murder under this crackdown, though such stretches aren’t unheard of, with similar periods earlier this year before federal intervention.
In fact, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has pointed out that violent crime was already down 27% this year compared to last before Trump’s troops marched in.
If the numbers were already trending downward, one might wonder if this heavy-handed approach is more about optics than necessity.
Now, Trump’s gaze has shifted to Chicago and Baltimore, cities he’s bluntly labeled as “hellholes” in need of federal muscle.
No specific deployment date has been set for Chicago, but the plan is clear—National Guard troops are coming, whether local leaders like it or not.
“Chicago is a hellhole right now,” Trump declared, doubling down on his view of these urban centers as lawless zones. Yet, the data tells a different story: Chicago’s homicides are down over 32% and violent crime has dropped more than 21% through July compared to last year.
Baltimore’s stats are similarly at odds with Trump’s grim portrayal, with homicides down 27% through August and overall violent crime reduced by 11% through June. If crime is already declining, is this deployment a solution looking for a problem?
Trump has expressed a wish for Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Maryland Governor Wes Moore to request National Guard help, but he’s not waiting for an invitation. “We’re going in,” he insisted, emphasizing his duty to protect the nation. It’s a bold stance, but one that sidesteps local governance entirely.
Democratic leaders in both states are likely bristling at this federal overreach, especially given the improving crime numbers in their cities. Trump’s insistence on action, regardless of their input, raises questions about state rights versus federal authority in matters of public safety.
Even in D.C., where the federal takeover has a 30-day limit, Trump has hinted at extending control beyond that window. This pattern suggests Chicago and Baltimore could face prolonged federal presence, whether it’s statistically justified or not.
Trump’s rhetoric extends beyond these cities, with parts of Los Angeles also earning his scorn as “terrible” in terms of crime.
He’s even tied past National Guard actions during anti-ICE riots to securing the 2028 Olympics for the city—a curious leap, but one that underscores his belief in military-style interventions.
“I have an obligation,” Trump reiterated, framing his actions as a patriotic duty rather than a political maneuver.
Yet, critics might argue this approach risks alienating communities already working to address crime through local initiatives, not federal boots on the ground.