Need to Knows
- President Trump labeled parts of Washington, D.C., “slums” and declared a federal crime emergency.
- Maryland Gov. Wes Moore invited Trump to Baltimore to see firsthand how crime has dropped.
- D.C. residents and leaders say Trump’s policies militarize communities and target Black neighborhoods.
- Advocates warn the DMV is a testing ground for authoritarian crime policies that may spread nationwide.
Trump Targets D.C. With “Crime Emergency”
President Donald Trump has declared a 30-day “crime emergency” in Washington, D.C., sending federal agents, National Guard troops, and even military vehicles into majority-Black neighborhoods. In announcing the crackdown, Trump described parts of the city as “slums” and a “hellhole,” saying visitors would no longer leave “in a body bag” or “a coffin.”
The remarks, paired with images of armed troops in residential neighborhoods, have drawn backlash from residents who say crime is already at a 30-year low. Critics argue the crackdown has little to do with safety and everything to do with consolidating power.
“This isn’t about public safety,” said Jamal Holtz, president of the D.C. Young Democrats. “Autocrats have used false narratives to seize control of local law enforcement before—it should scare all Americans that it’s happening here in the nation’s capital.”
Baltimore Pushes Back
Just up I-95, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is taking a different approach. In a letter to Trump, Moore invited the president to Baltimore to walk the streets and see the city’s recent crime reductions.
“In the first six months of 2025, the Baltimore Police Department continued to see double-digit reductions in gun violence, including a 22% decrease in homicides and a 19% decrease in non-fatal shootings,” Moore wrote. “We are on track for the lowest number of homicides in Baltimore since official records began.”
Moore, Maryland’s first Black governor, emphasized that statewide homicides are down 20% since he took office. His message to Trump was blunt: “If you are not willing to walk our communities, keep our name out of your mouth.”
The governor also slammed the administration’s decision to slash millions in federal funds for gun violence prevention. Instead, Moore touted investments in community-based strategies and neighborhood safety walks.
DMV Communities Say Federal Tactics Are Dangerous
Across the D.C. region, residents say Trump’s rhetoric paints an unfair picture of diverse neighborhoods. Gregory Jackson, a public safety advocate who lives in Ward 8, called the president’s “slum” remarks “offensive, dangerous, and discriminatory.”
Courtney Snowden, a sixth-generation Washingtonian and former deputy mayor, said residents “get up, go to work, pay their taxes, and raise families just like in any other American city.” She warned that federal agents lack the cultural knowledge local police have, which could escalate tensions.
For many, the militarization of the streets feels less like protection and more like occupation. “Now you could just be walking home from school and be interrogated,” Jackson said. “It reinforces the idea that Black residents are seen as threats first and people second.”
D.C. and Baltimore at the Center of a National Power Struggle
Leaders and advocates believe D.C. and Baltimore are being used as experiments for a national agenda. By targeting majority-Black cities with federal crackdowns, Trump is signaling how he might handle urban America more broadly.
“This is scapegoating, not solutions,” Jackson said. “We know what works: investing in education, jobs, housing, and community programs. That’s how crime is reduced—not tanks on city streets.”
Moore echoed that sentiment in his letter, saying Maryland’s success shows that collaboration, not confrontation, is the path to safer communities. “In Maryland and in Baltimore,” he wrote, “you will find people who want to be part of the solution, not the problem.”
Two Paths for the DMV
The contrasting stories of Washington, D.C., and Baltimore highlight a broader struggle over how America defines public safety. Trump has chosen to criminalize and militarize, framing Black-led cities as irredeemable. Moore, by contrast, points to progress made through investment and partnership.
Residents across the DMV say the choice is clear. As one longtime Washingtonian put it: “We don’t need a president calling our homes slums. We need leaders who see our humanity and work with us to build safer communities.”
