Posted on 08/11/25
| News Source: WBAL TV
Baltimore, MD - Aug. 11, 2025 - President Donald Trump again referenced Baltimore while speaking about crime.
This time, it was during an announcement on Monday that the president is deploying the National Guard across Washington, D.C., and taking over the Metropolitan Police Department in the hopes of reducing crime, even as the city's mayor has noted that crime is falling in the nation's capital.
"This issue directly impacts the functioning of the federal government and is a threat to America, a threat to our country," Trump said. "We have other cities also that are bad, very bad. You look at Chicago, how bad it is, you look at Los Angeles, how bad it is, other cities that are very bad, New York is a problem, and then you have of course, Baltimore and Oakland — you don't even mention that anymore they're so far gone."
More than halfway through 2025, the year is already historic for Baltimore. Homicides in the city and violent crimes involving young people are at decade lows, as well as the drop in gun violence.
As of Monday, Baltimore police released data that shows 32 fewer homicides and 37 fewer non-fatal shootings than the same period last year.
It's a point that's not lost on Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, who released a statement shortly after the president's comments from the White House. The mayor's statement follows in its entirety.
"This is the latest effort by the president to distract from the issues he should be focused on-including the roller coaster of the U.S. economy thanks to his policies. When it comes to public safety in Baltimore, he should turn off the right-wing propaganda and look at the facts. Baltimore is the safest it's been in over 50 years.
"Homicides are down 28% this year alone, reaching the lowest level of any year on record. We still have real work to do to build on this progress, but that work starts and ends here in Baltimore, with the local, state and federal partners who have gotten us this far.
"It's not just Baltimore. Violent crime is at historic lows in cities across the country under the leadership of mayors who have brought together partners from law enforcement, the legal system and communities to reduce violence. The president could learn a lot about leadership from them."
Getting to this point didn't happen overnight. Baltimore City State's Attorney Ivan Bates appeared Sunday on "11 TV Hill" to discuss the overall crime-fighting effort in his office and across the city.