Maryland’s Democratic governor, Wes Moore, has made it clear that he doesn’t want to engage in political battles with President Donald Trump. In a recent interview, he stated, “I have no personal desire to go back and forth with the president of the United States. That’s not why I ran for office.”
This sentiment might be challenged, however, as tensions between them have escalated. President Trump recently chose not to invite Moore to the upcoming bipartisan governor’s dinner at the White House, branding him as “unfit” to attend.
To further complicate matters, earlier this week Trump criticized Moore in the wake of a substantial sewage spill into the Potomac River, blaming local leaders for what he called “gross mismanagement.” The spill, resulting from a collapsed underground pipeline on January 19th, has led to alarming levels of contaminants in the river—over 2,700 times the safe limit, based on research conducted by the Potomac River Steward Network and the University of Maryland.
Moore’s position is somewhat unique compared to other Democratic governors like Gavin Newsom of California and J.B. Pritzker of Illinois, who have been more vocally critical of Trump. Moore seems to want to steer clear of what he refers to as “the political gamesmanship you see in Washington, D.C.” He did, however, express frustration at Trump’s characterization of the situation as “ridiculous,” particularly since the sewage overflow occurred from federal land, insisting that it falls outside of Maryland’s jurisdiction.
On social media, Trump cautioned about a “massive ecological disaster,” placing the blame primarily on Moore and local leaders. He asserted that if those in charge aren’t managing the crisis, they need to reach out for federal assistance. Meanwhile, White House press secretary Caroline Levitt stated that the federal government is ready to assist but hopes local officials will collaborate with them.
The sewer line issue is currently being addressed by DC Water, an independent utility managing the repairs, which are projected to take four to six weeks. Moore defended his involvement, stating, “Maryland has nothing to do with this. All we did was support a neighbor in need.” He argued that in light of the circumstances, it has been Maryland that’s been stepping up to do the federal government’s job.
Moore expressed his disbelief regarding Trump’s attacks, labeling them as absurd and unnecessary. During a meeting in Annapolis with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Moore discussed Maryland’s redistricting efforts. The governor is advocating for new congressional maps to counter Republican efforts in other states, although resistance from state Senate President Bill Ferguson has stalled progress.
Moore’s approach has drawn criticism from Republicans as an example of “partisan gerrymandering.” If his redistricting plan succeeds, it could jeopardize the position of Rep. Andy Harris, Maryland’s only Republican in Congress. Addressing these challenges, Moore argued, “We are simply asking the Maryland Senate to do its democratic duty, debate, and then vote.” He reiterated his belief in the democratic process, urging for a vote regardless of the outcome.
