Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott intensified his opposition to President Donald Trump’s proposed National Guard deployment on Wednesday, declaring that “the most important thing” he can do is to ensure Trump does not “win.”
The comment came amid escalating tensions between local leaders and the White House, following Trump’s repeated claims that Baltimore is “so far gone” on crime and his vow to send troops to restore order. Scott has been unequivocal in rejecting the idea, stating, “We’re good; we don’t need or want the National Guard here in Baltimore”.
He emphasized that the city’s recent progress in reducing violent crime proves that federal military intervention is both unnecessary and counterproductive. According to data from the mayor’s office, homicides in Baltimore have dropped nearly 30% compared to the same period in 2024, with August recording the lowest number of homicides for that month in over 50 years.
The mayor also suggested that Trump’s targeting of Baltimore is politically and racially motivated. He urged residents and officials to resist such narratives and continue building on the city’s grassroots public safety efforts, which include partnerships with federal law enforcement agencies like the FBI, DEA, and ATF—not military troops.
Governor Wes Moore echoed Scott’s stance, refusing to authorize the Maryland National Guard for what he called “performative” purposes. Moore invited Trump to walk the streets of Baltimore with him and local leaders to witness the city’s progress firsthand—a proposal Trump dismissed, instead doubling down on his plan to deploy troops. The governor and mayor have both called for increased federal support for community violence intervention programs rather than military presence.
As the debate unfolds, Baltimore residents remain divided. Some business owners, like Terence Dickson, believe the Guard could help restore safety, while others, including community leader Elijah Miles, fear it would lead to over-policing and harm Black and Brown communities.
For Mayor Scott, however, the stakes are clear: “We cannot allow them to get what they want,” he said. “We have to stand up for our city and our neighborhoods.”
