Gov. Wes Moore on Trump: ‘I pray for him and I just feel bad for him’

Growing Tension Between Trump and Maryland Governor Wes Moore Takes Center Stage

President Donald Trump has increasingly focused his criticism on Maryland Governor Wes Moore, highlighting a growing political rivalry that could impact upcoming redistricting battles across the nation.

The friction became more evident when Trump excluded Moore, the nation’s only Black governor currently in office, from a White House dinner with state leaders from both parties, claiming the governor was “not worthy” of attending the event. Trump has also blamed Moore for a recent sewage spill that contaminated the Potomac River, despite the fact that the faulty pipe is part of a federally regulated utility on federal land in Washington, D.C.

“This one would actually be comical if it weren’t so serious,” Moore said in a recent interview with The Associated Press. “This is a Washington, D.C., pipe that exists on federal land. How this has anything to do with Maryland, I have no idea. I think he just woke up and just said, I hate Maryland.”

The tension may intensify as Moore pursues an effort to redraw Maryland’s congressional map to potentially benefit Democrats, contributing to a nationwide redistricting struggle that Trump initiated to help Republicans in the midterm elections. Moore faces resistance from within his own party in the state legislature but remains determined to bring the issue to a vote.

“All we’re asking for is a vote. And however the vote goes, however the vote goes. But that’s democracy,” Moore explained. He emphasized that his actions aren’t primarily about partisan advantage but rather about providing checks and balances to what he describes as “an unchecked executive.”

Moore, who serves as vice chair of the National Governors Association and is frequently mentioned as a potential Democratic presidential candidate, recently met with Democratic House leader Hakeem Jeffries to discuss the redistricting efforts. He has framed the redistricting battle as a response to Trump’s own actions.

“This would not be an issue had it not been for Donald Trump saying, you know what, let me come up with every creative way I can think of to make this pain permanent,” Moore said. “One of the ways he did was he said, let’s just start calling states — the states I choose — to say let’s have a redistricting conversation mid-decade.”

When asked if Trump’s criticism feels personal, Moore demurred. “I have no desire to have beef with the president of the United States. I didn’t run for governor like, man, I can’t wait so me and the president can go toe to toe,” he said. “The fact that he is waking up in the middle of the night and tweeting about me, I just pray for him and I just feel bad for him because that has just got to be a really, really hard existence.”

Moore also addressed Trump’s relationship with the Black community, particularly pointed given the White House’s recent Black History Month commemoration. “The president has long had a very complicated history with the Black community,” Moore noted, referencing Trump’s history of housing discrimination lawsuits, promotion of birtherism, and recent efforts to restrict education about Black history.

As political tensions heighten nationwide, Moore emphasized the critical role of governors as “the final line of defense” in America’s divided landscape. When asked about breaking through political polarization, Moore suggested staying authentic: “If you’re a polarizing person or polarizing personality, then that’s just who you are. That’s just never been me.”

The ongoing tension between Trump and Moore illustrates the increasingly personal nature of political rivalries in America and highlights the potential significance of state-level decisions on the national political landscape as redistricting battles continue across the country.