President Trump has been deploying National Guard troops armed with weapons to Washington, D.C., and signaling similar interventions in cities like Baltimore, Chicago, and New York. But notably, none of these cities appear on the FBI’s latest list of the 10 U.S. cities with the highest rates of crimes against people per 100,000 residents.
That list includes Memphis, TN, Cleveland, OH, Toledo, OH, Little Rock, AR, Peoria, IL, Springfield, IL, Detroit, MI, Akron, OH, Beaumont, TX and Rockford, IL.
So if today’s concern is to “reestablish law, order and public safety,” why isn’t Trump calling for militias in these cities?
Those ten cities are the real hotspots when it comes to per-capita violent crime. Washington, D.C., and Chicago, while sometimes spotlighted by federal authorities, aren’t even among the top ten. If the goal is to restore public safety where it’s needed most, those cities deserve attention, not just theater.
Baltimore’s Mayor Brandon Scott has not minced words. Responding to Trump’s comments painting the city as “so far gone on crime,” Scott pushed back:
“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,” Scott said on CNN.
He went even further, framing the federal move as a distraction—not action:
“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,” adding, “When it comes to public safety in Baltimore, he should turn off the right‑wing propaganda and look at the facts.”
And for good measure, he called out the racial politics behind targeting Black-led cities despite “historic crime lows.”
This isn’t about public safety first; it’s about optics and politics. It’s telling that the National Guard is sent to D.C., and Chicago may be next, but cities with higher crime rates stay off the radar.
If President Trump truly wants to promote law, order, and public safety, then:
- Let the FBI data lead the way—the top-10 cities with the most serious per-capita crime deserve real attention.
- Respect local leadership, especially where crime is declining thanks to thoughtful strategy.
- Be wary of politically charged displays—deploying troops for optics isn’t statecraft; it’s spectacle.
Mayor Brandon Scott’s response should serve as a guide: cut through the noise. Look at the numbers. Recognize progress. Support—not overshadow—local communities doing it right.
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