Trump Threatens Baltimore Bridge Funding Cut, National Guard Deployment

President Donald Trump has escalated his conflict with Maryland Governor Wes Moore by threatening to cut federal funding for the reconstruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which was destroyed last year, citing political differences rather than any concrete reason. Trump falsely claimed on Truth Social that he provided significant funding for the bridge's repair, despite the project receiving full federal support during 2024 negotiations before his presidency. The dispute intensified after Moore invited Trump to walk the streets of Baltimore, a city Trump criticized for its crime rates, accusing Moore of misrepresenting crime statistics and suggesting he would deploy federal troops to address the issue as done in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles. Trump described Baltimore as one of the most dangerous cities in the U.S. and challenged Moore to improve public safety before Trump would visit. Moore, who has urged Trump to refrain from involving Baltimore in their feud, has been positioned by Trump as a failing leader on crime, further politicizing disaster relief and federal law enforcement deployments. These tensions reflect broader partisan conflicts over federal intervention in cities led by Democratic officials with significant Black populations.