Wes Moore says Trump's rhetoric on crime is "purely performative" as president offers to send troops to Baltimore

Source: CBS News

August 24, 2025 / 2:05 PM ED


Washington — Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said Sunday that President Trump's rhetoric on crime is "purely performative" as the president has offered to send troops to Baltimore amid a push to crack down on crime that began in the nation's capital in recent weeks and could extend to other major cities.

"While the President is spending his time from the Oval Office making jabs and attacks at us, there are people actually on the ground doing the work who know what supports would actually work to continue to bring down crime. But it's falling on deaf ears of the president of the United States," Moore said on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan."

Mr. Trump moved to federalize the District of Columbia's Metropolitan Police Department earlier this month and deployed the National Guard to the district to assist law enforcement, despite data showing crime has declined in the city in recent years.

Upon announcing the moves, the president outlined that the effort "will go further," saying the administration is "starting very strongly with D.C." and suggesting it could then move to other cities, though the president has unique authority over the D.C. National Guard because the district is controlled by the federal government.

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/wes-moore-trump-crime-rhetoric-face-the-nation-08-24-2025/