President Donald Trump, on Sunday, escalated tensions by threatening to deploy military forces to additional Democratic-governed cities, following a contentious exchange with Maryland’s Governor. In response to an invitation from Governor Wes Moore to tour Baltimore together, Trump retorted he might rather "send in the troops."

Recently, Trump indicated he was contemplating troop deployments in Chicago and New York, akin to the actions undertaken in Washington D.C., where a significant presence of National Guard and federal law enforcement officers currently patrols.

This potential escalation toward Baltimore emerged amidst ongoing criticism from Gov. Moore, a Democrat who has openly challenged Trump's unprecedented deployment of federal power aimed at tackling crime and homelessness. In an attempt at dialogue, Moore invited Trump to visit Maryland for discussions on public safety.

However, in a post on Truth Social that day, Trump dismissed Moore's invitation as confrontational and suggested he could replicate his previous National Guard deployment strategy used in Los Angeles against California's governor’s wishes.

“Wes Moore’s record on Crime is very bad,” wrote Trump. “But if Wes needs help like Gavin Newsom did in L.A., I will send in the ‘troops,’ which is already happening nearby DC.”

Governor Moore responded by highlighting Baltimore's improved crime statistics post-pandemic, noting significant reductions across various metrics: violent crime fell by nearly 8% while property crimes decreased by 20% between 2023 and 2024.

"The president seems more focused on me than the people I serve," said Moore during CBS’s "Face the Nation," further condemning Trump's statements as false representations of Maryland's public safety situation.

The dynamic echoes broader national debates; Trump's plans have met strong resistance from leaders in other target cities such as Chicago and New York. Reports suggest potential operations involving National Guard troops are under preparation.

White House officials referenced Trump's prior remarks when queried about these developments. "I think Chicago will be next," remarked Trump previously at the White House.

The narrative set forth by Trump paints certain large cities - often led by Black Democratic mayors - as beset with danger and disorder. Notably, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott shares this demographic profile along with leaders from Washington D.C. and New York City.

During an event at Howard University on Sunday, Rev. Al Sharpton criticized the motivations behind increased military presence stating it reflects racial profiling rather than addressing actual crime concerns.