Democrats stand against Trump's military strategies
In a recent development, US President Donald Trump has set his sights on potential deployments of the National Guard in the cities of Baltimore and Chicago. Despite this, official data shows a decrease in crime numbers in both cities, with Baltimore reporting a drop and Washington experiencing a significant decline.
The potential deployment of National Guard troops is being planned by the Pentagon, but Trump has not yet officially announced such a move for either city. In Los Angeles earlier this year, Trump deployed National Guard troops, citing Section 12406 of federal law as a legal basis for his action, even if it went against the will of the state governor.
The Democratic minority leader of the US House of Representatives, Hakeem Jeffries, has denied President Trump the legal authority for a potential military deployment in Chicago. Governor JB Pritzker of Illinois, who spoke out against the possible military intervention in Chicago, shares similar sentiments, stating that there is no emergency that would justify such a deployment. The governor of California, Gavin Newsom, also opposed the deployment in Los Angeles earlier this year.
Despite the opposition, Trump has been considering expanding the deployment of the National Guard. He has previously deployed the National Guard in Washington, justifying it with violent crimes in the city. Trump's potential reasons for deploying the National Guard in Baltimore and Chicago could include repelling an invasion, suppressing a rebellion, or enforcing the law.
Contrary to Trump's claims, both Baltimore and Chicago have seen a decrease in crime rates. The mayor of Chicago, Brandon Johnson, reported a more than 30% decrease in the city's murder rate last year, while the number of shootings decreased by almost 40%. Similarly, crime is reportedly decreasing in Baltimore.
In a surprising turn of events, Trump distributed burgers and pizza to National Guard troops in both cities, suggesting a potential deployment could be imminent. However, the final decision and the official announcement remain to be seen.
