Maryland Gov. Moore jabs Trump ahead of Army-Navy Game, still willing to work with White House

Tinashe Chingarande, Baltimore Sun on Dec 12, 2025

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Maryland Gov. Wes Moore on Friday said President Donald Trump “just sits in the Oval Office and just hurls 1980s tropes about Baltimore” — the latest jab in a months-long feud between the two leaders.

Moore chastised Trump in an appearance on MS NOW’s “Morning Joe” show, where one of the show’s hosts asked him to react to Trump calling Baltimore a “hellhole,” despite the city recording its lowest crime rate in decades.

“The president doesn’t see what’s happening because the president doesn’t come here. The president just sits in the Oval Office and just hurls 1980s tropes about Baltimore,” Moore said. “I’m excited for him to get here this weekend for the Army-Navy Game because he’ll see what we see.”

Moore proceeded to tout his and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott’s success in lowering crime rates and increasing real estate investment in the city since Moore took office.

“When the president comes this weekend, he’ll be able to see that not only have we locked in the Baltimore Orioles for a 30-year lease, we have been able to dramatically decrease the amount of vacant homes within the city of Baltimore,” Moore said. “(Trump will) see that the homicide rate — the last time it was this low in Baltimore City, I wasn’t born yet. And across the state of Maryland, we’re having amongst the fastest drops in the country in everything from violent crime to property crime.”

“So I hope that the president actually comes and spends some time,” Moore continued. “And instead of lectures, he should come spend some time and learn.”

Since Trump returned to the White House, Moore largely steered clear of verbally sparring with the president, citing his willingness to compromise and work with the Republican president. But the Maryland governor’s tone shifted in August when Trump alleged Baltimore was “so far gone” when it comes to crime.

“Keep our name out of your mouth,” Moore said at the time.

Moore hasn’t held back since then. When the Pentagon in November announced it was investigating Democratic members of Congress who encouraged service members to defy Trump’s “illegal orders,” Moore called the agency “ridiculous” and accused Trump of “political misuse of our troops.”

Moore maintained the same energy in his Friday appearance on MS NOW. But he was also diplomatic at other times.

When asked what message he has for Trump, Moore said he wants “to be able to work with the president.”

“I’m very clear I will work with anyone,” Moore said. “But I will just bow down to no one. And we’re going to make sure we’re protecting our people. And if the president wanted to work together, there’s a better way to make sure that the American people can actually be protected.”

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