US President Donald Trump has indicated he may deploy troops to Baltimore following a suggestion from Maryland Governor Wes Moore, who invited him to participate in a safety initiative in the city. On social media, Trump stated, “If Wes Moore needs help, like Gavin Newsom did in L.A., I will send in the ‘troops,'” referencing recent troop deployments in nearby Washington, D.C., as part of his crime reduction strategy.
This proposal illustrates an ongoing conflict between Trump and several Democratic leaders regarding the use of military forces for domestic law enforcement. Past responses from some Democrats have described such actions as an “abuse of power.”
Currently, Trump has around 2,000 troops stationed in Washington, D.C., where they have begun carrying weapons as a precautionary measure. The Joint Task Force overseeing these troops has noted that their weapons will only be used as a last resort. A potential mobilization of up to 1,700 additional troops across 19 states is being discussed in the coming weeks.
Governor Moore, who has been critical of Trump’s approach, characterized the president’s remarks as “tone deaf and ignorant,” claiming that those in power have not experienced the realities of the communities facing these issues. Trump’s response to Moore’s invitation was described by the president as “nasty” and “provocative.”
Despite Trump asserting that crime has significantly decreased in D.C. since his administration’s operation began, Democratic leaders from various regions, including Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, have expressed concerns over the implications of deploying troops for law enforcement. Some have questioned Trump’s legal authority to send military personnel to cities without the consent of state leaders.
Public sentiment also appears to reflect skepticism about the deployment of federal troops; a recent poll indicated that nearly 80% of Baltimore residents oppose both the deployment of federal officers and the National Guard in the city.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c78mymx7mpko?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss