Maryland’s Democratic Gov. Wes Moore skipped President Trump’s event near Baltimore to unveil new manufacturing investment on Tuesday because he would not have been allowed to speak.
The president visited Maryland on Tuesday to tout $6.6 billion in investments from the federal government and defense manufacturer Anduril to build submarine parts in Sparrows Point, an industrial area.
But Mr. Moore told reporters he would not attend, despite having been invited, because the administration did not allot him a speaking slot.
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“We are very proud of the fact that we have been working with [Anduril] for over a year to bring them on board,” he said, taking credit for the investment.
“If the president of the United States wants to bring the circus in town and tell me that I’m not allowed to speak, despite the fact we were the ones that helped bring the deal, then I will let the circus be conducted while I go back to the work of the people of Maryland,” he said.
Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, Maryland Democrat, similarly said the president should “absolutely not” get credit for the investment.
According to CNN, a White House official fired back at Mr. Moore, while not denying that he was denied the ability to speak.
“It’s unfortunate that the Governor is now making a multi-billion-dollar announcement about himself by throwing a tantrum over a federal initiative that will bring sorely needed jobs back to his state thanks to President Trump,” the official said.
Mr. Moore, who is seeking reelection in November, has had an adversarial relationship with the president. In January, the two exchanged accusations over who was at fault for the collapse of a sewer line on federal property in Maryland.
In the lead-up to Election Day, Mr. Moore has been campaigning in favor of out-of-state Democratic candidates and promoting a ballot initiative to allow Maryland to redraw its congressional map and potentially eliminate its one Republican representative.
Amid speculation about his 2028 ambitions, Mr. Moore was asked in his last gubernatorial debate whether he would serve a full four-year term if reelected governor.
“I would not be running for reelection if I was not committed to the people of Maryland,” he said, though he did not explicitly say “yes” or “no” despite being given numerous opportunities.
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