President Trump is using crime as a political weapon, proclaiming quick-fix solutions to deeply rooted challenges in cities led by Democrats.

Deploying troops on American streets is rare and controversial. National Guard have been sent to Washington in recent years, to help bolster security at presidential inaugurations and during protests, including the January 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters.

President Donald Trump delivered a barrage of false claims about crime in Washington, DC, during a series of Monday comments defending his takeover of the police force and deployment of the National Guard in the nation’s capital.

President Trump escalated a feud with Democratic Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, a possible 2028 presidential contender, as the two traded barbs over law enforcement in Baltimore and the president’s Vietnam War-era draft deferment.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said President Trump's rhetoric on crime is "purely performative" as the president offered to send troops to Baltimore amid a broader push to crack down on crime.