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Trump Threatens To Take Back Funding To Fix Baltimore Bridge After Maryland Governor Considers Redistricting
While the shipping channel has since reopened, demolition of the collapsed bridge continues, and its replacement—expected to cost up to $1.9 billion—is not slated for completion until 2028.
And Trump doesn't have any federal funds to take away: The Biden administration released $60 million in emergency funds days after the disaster, and a stopgap spending bill passed in December, before Trump took office again, authorized federal funding for the full replacement.
Moore's comments on redistricting came as Republicans go on the offensive now that California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a sweeping redistricting proposal to redraw the state’s congressional boundaries, creating five new Democratic-leaning U.S. House seats in what he described as a direct response to Republican-led gerrymandering in Texas backed by Trump.
He said the following in an interview on Face the Nation:
"I think we have to, and this is what people hate about politics in the first place, the fact that the president of the United States, very similar to what he did in Georgia, where he called up a series of voter registrants and said, 'I need you to find me more votes.'"
"We're watching the same thing now where he's calling up legislatures around the country and saying, 'I need you to find me more congressional districts.' ... I want to make sure that we have fair lines and fair seats, where we don't have situations where politicians are choosing voters but where voters actually have a chance to choose their elected officials."
"We need to be able to have fair maps and we also need to make sure that if the president of the United States is putting his finger on the scale to manipulate elections because he knows that his policies cannot win at a ballot box then it behooves each and every one of us to keep all options on the table to ensure the voters' voices can actually be heard."
When asked about whether the voters in Maryland's lone Republican district feel represented, Moore said that congressional maps across the country indicate "that less than 10% of congressional seats are competitive by nature," adding:
"If you look at the average win margin in our state and other states ... is upwards to 20 to 30%. That means that we already have so many gerrymandered areas that we have to be able to add a measure of fairness in the way they're applied so yes, all options need to be on the table in the state of Maryland."
You can hear what Moore said in the video below.
A furious Trump responded shortly afterward, referencing Moore's invitation for Trump to “come walk the streets with us" and see that crime rates are nothing like what Trump has personally claimed in justifying his recent deployment of troops to Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles:
"Governor Wes Moore of Maryland has asked, in a rather nasty and provocative tone, that I ‘walk the streets of Maryland’ with him. I assume he is talking about out of control, crime ridden, Baltimore? As President, I would much prefer that he clean up this Crime disaster before I go there for a ‘walk.'”
"Wes Moore's record on Crime is a very bad one, unless he fudges his figures on crime like many of the other 'Blue States' are doing. But if Wes Moore needs help, like Gavin Newscum did in L.A., I will send in the 'troops,' which is being done in DC, and quickly clean up the Crime."
“After only one week, there is NO CRIME AND NO MURDER IN DC! When it is like that in Baltimore, I will proudly ‘walk the streets’ with the failing, because of Crime, Governor of Maryland. P.S. Baltimore is ranked the 4th WORST CITY IN THE NATION IN CRIME & MURDER. Stop talking and get to work, Wes. I’ll then see you on the streets!!!”
Trump then issued his hollow threat to take away funds for the repair of the Francis Scott Key Bridge:
"Also, I gave Wes Moore a lot of money to fix his demolished bridge. I will now have to rethink that decision??? Thank you for your attention to this matter. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"
You can see Trump's post below.
@realDonaldTrump/Truth Social
Trump was soundly criticized.
National Guard troops remain stationed across Washington, with federal agents continuing to patrol city streets.
On Friday, Trump signaled he wants to expand the effort to other Democratic-led cities, though legal limits on Guard deployments could complicate that plan.
Moore, like other Democratic governors, has said he will not authorize sending Guard troops to fight crime in Baltimore. But Trump's attack suggested he may try to leverage Department of Transportation and FEMA disaster relief funding to pressure governors into cooperating.
Mayor Offers Fiery Warning Over Trump's Plan To Deploy National Guard To Chicago
The discussions come even as Chicago’s crime rate has fallen amid targeted violence-intervention programs funded by the city and federal government. Recently, however, the Justice Department cut grant funding for those efforts.
In a statement on X, Johnson, a Democrat who was elected in 2023, said that "investing in our communities is what makes our city safer" and that "there are many things the federal government could do to help us reduce crime and violence in Chicago, but sending in the military is not one of them."
He included the following official statement condemning the Trump administration's plan:
"Unlawfully deploying the National Guard in Chicago has the potential to inflame tensions between residents and law enforcement when we know that trust between police and residents is foundational to building safer communities."
"An unlawful deployment of the national guard would be unsustainable and would threaten to undermine the historic progress we have made. In the past year alone, we have reduced homicides by more than 30%, robberies by 35%, and shootings by almost 40%."
"We need to continue to invest in what is working. Our communities are safest when we fully invest in housing, community safety, and education. The National Guard will not alleviate the housing crisis. It will not put food in the stomachs of the 1 in 4 children that go to bed hungry every night in Chicago."
"The National Guard will not fully-fund public schools or provide mental healthcare or substance abuse treatment to Chicagoans in need. The National Guard is no substitute for dedicated local law enforcement and community violence interrupters who know and serve our communities every day."
"There are many things the federal government could do to help us reduce crime and violence in Chicago, but sending in the military is not one of them."
You can see his post and the statement below.
Mayor Brandon Johnson
Mayor Brandon Johnson
Mayor Brandon Johnson
In an interview with MSNBC, Johnson referenced Trump's recent deployment of federal troops in Washington, D.C., saying:
'The president has spent hundreds of millions of dollars to arrest what, nine people in D.C.? Clearly he's demonstrated that he doesn't have a level of consciousness to understand what it takes to run cities, not to mention an entire country."
"We're going to remain firm, we're going to take legal action, but the people of this city are accustomed to rising up against tyranny."
"And if that's necessary, I believe the people of Chicago will stand firm alongside of me as I work everyday to protect the people of this city. The city of Chicago, one of the most diverse economies in the world, a city that has been founded and established on the values of working people."
"We're not going to surrender our humanity to this tyrant. I can tell you this: The city of Chicago has a long history of standing up against tyranny—resisting those who wish to undermine the interests of working people."
"We're not gonna back down, we're not gonna cower, we're not gonna bend, we're not gonna break. We are Chicago. We are the soul of America and we will maintain that posture from now until."
You can hear what he said in the video below.
Many others have pushed back against the Trump administration as the city braces itself for the Pentagon's next move.
Trump administration officials said the planning for a military intervention in Chicago has likely been tied to expanded ICE operations aimed at finding undocumented migrants.
The potential deployment comes as federal authorities move to intensify deportation efforts—including expanding ICE and challenging “sanctuary” policies— under a directive from White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller to carry out at least 3,000 arrests a day.
Johnson, in a separate statement, said city officials take Trump’s threats seriously but have received no formal communication from the administration about additional law enforcement or military deployments.
