ICYMI: Democratic Mayors Call Out Trump’s 100 Days of Chaos and Harm to Working Families and Cities
Earlier this week, the Democratic Mayors Association (DMA) hosted a press call with Cleveland Mayor Justin M. Bibb, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell, and Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott to call out Donald Trump’s first 100 days back in office as a period of chaos, cruelty, and broken promises, underscoring the real damage his administration is doing to working families and cities. In contrast to Trump’s chaotic first 100 days, the mayors emphasized their work on the ground to protect residents, invest in local economies, and maintain essential services.
Take a look at the coverage highlights below:
CBS News: Democratic mayors discuss impact of Trump administration's first 100 days (April 28, 2025)
“In a meeting earlier today, [Democratic mayors] said President Trump‘s agenda is hurting cities, including Baltimore. Mayor Scott said the progress Baltimore has made in historic investments, bringing down crime, and feeding the community are now all at risk. He went on to say President Trump has no solutions to current issues, so he creates problems.
“He started tariff wars with our closest allies, tanked the market, then backtracked, and then took credit when the market bounced back. For Trump, those moves were about the needs of his interests and big corporations. That's always his number two priority, big corporation interests. Number one is Donald J Trump. Our number one priority is our residents,” Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott said.
WKRN: Democratic mayors say President Trump’s first 100 days in office have been ‘chaos’ (Katelyn Quisenberry, April 28, 2025)
“Mayors from several cities said they have felt the ripple effects of the administration — with federal funding at risk, the dissolution of diversity initiatives and staffing cuts on the horizon.
“Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell is finalizing his budget proposal due to Metro Council by Thursday. However, he said uncertainty from the current administration has made the process more difficult, citing economic instability and major federal cuts as reasons.
“Cleveland’s mayor, Justin Bibb, said funding cuts have forced them to speed up emergency housing for the homeless before their funding gets cut.
“Mayors have been on the frontlines of these attacks, seeing first-hand the local impacts of Trump’s reckless policies and being the ones to dredge through the chaos and confusion to be able to serve our communities,” Bibb said. “In my city of Cleveland, we have seen how chaos hurts everyday people.”
“In Baltimore, cutting public safety grants threatens improvements to be made in crime reduction and victim services. Phoenix’s mayor said tension with Mexico — Arizona’s top trade partner — has local businesses rethinking investments.
The Arizona Republic: 'Deeply concerning time': Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego rebukes Donald Trump's first 100 days (Taylor Seely, April 28, 2025)
“Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego rebuked President Donald Trump’s first 100 days in office on Monday, April 28, saying his administration’s changes had led to economic uncertainty that threatens to exacerbate the homelessness crisis and thwart cancer research.
“It has been a difficult 100 days,” the mayor said, before listing a series of hardships she pinned on Trump. “It’s a deeply concerning time.”
“The call cast Trump’s first 100 days as “chaotic” and said his administration was bringing a “hacksaw” to government programs that made communities healthier and safer, such as Meals on Wheels and Head Start.
“In Phoenix, Gallego said the city recently learned the federal government would no longer be funding a portion of housing vouchers the Biden administration had committed to Phoenix through 2030, the mayor said.
“The president says that he wants to address homelessness, but it’s really hard to see when it’s literally cutting vouchers for people experiencing homelessness,” Gallego said. “And it comes at a time where the federal government is really exiting its role in so many areas related to housing and homelessness.”
Axios Nashville: Nashville mayor slams "chaos and cruelty" of Trump's first 100 days (Adam Tamburin, April 28, 2025)
“Why it matters: During a Democratic Mayors Association press call, O'Connell said Trump's efforts to slash federal spending in the name of efficiency have slammed Nashville hospitals, charities, businesses and health programs.
“O'Connell singled out the citywide program Nashville Strong Babies, which helps new mothers get the resources they need to keep their children healthy. O'Connell said the federally backed program had helped improve maternal and infant mortality rates.
“O'Connell said his administration had received word that federal funding for the program would be cut by half.
“That is not efficiency," O'Connell said. “Protecting the early life of 1-year-olds, helping them see their life through to their first birthday, [and] helping moms with that support — that is where you actually save money with better health outcomes.”
WYPR: Baltimore mayor says hard conversations ahead over loss of federal grant funds (Scott Maucione, April 28, 2025)
“Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott says the city may have to make some tough financial decisions if federal funding under the Trump White House continues to be limited by new policies.
“Baltimore, and many other cities across the country, is dealing with surprise budget gaps after the White House pulled funding and grants for things like COVID relief, education and violence prevention programs.
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