Baltimore, Maryland – September 1, 2025
In a pointed exchange amid escalating tensions over urban crime policies, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore pushed back against President Donald Trump’s threats to deploy the National Guard to Baltimore, emphasizing his commitment to local solutions over federal overreach. “I have no interest in fighting with the president, but I have an interest in fighting for my communities and fighting for our people,” Moore told ABC News’ “This Week” co-anchor Martha Raddatz in an interview that aired Sunday. The remarks come as Trump continues to target Democratic-led cities like Baltimore, calling it a “hellhole” and renewing calls for military intervention, despite data showing significant crime reductions in the city. Moore’s response, delivered during a broader discussion on public safety, highlights a growing rift between state leaders and the administration, raising questions about federal versus local authority in addressing urban challenges.
Key Details of Moore’s Interview and the Ongoing Feud
Moore’s interview, conducted in Baltimore, addressed Trump’s recent Oval Office comments where he rebuked Moore’s invitation for a joint public safety walk and threatened to send National Guard troops to the city. Trump, who earlier this month offered to deploy the Guard to multiple cities following a law enforcement surge in Washington, D.C., described Baltimore as “so far gone” and a “hellhole.” Moore, in response, formally invited the president to join local officials on a safety initiative, but Trump dismissed it, reigniting the verbal sparring on social media.
During the ABC segment, Moore touted Baltimore’s progress, noting a drop in violent crime and homicides, and criticized the National Guard deployment as “not a serious approach.” “If the president of the United States were to have a serious conversation with me and say, what can we do—particularly when you look at the cost of the National Guard of well over a million dollars a day?” Moore said. “I would tell him things like, we need to make sure we’re increasing funding for local law enforcement.” He argued that Guard troops, untrained for municipal policing, represent a performative rather than substantive solution.
The feud has also touched on Moore’s military record. Trump resurfaced a 2024 New York Times report alleging Moore falsely claimed a Bronze Star in a 2006 White House application, with clips from 2008 and 2010 showing him not correcting introductions. Moore, who received the medal in December 2024 after it was recommended but delayed, called it an “honest mistake” based on commanding officers’ advice. In retort, Moore dubbed Trump “President Bone Spurs,” referencing the president’s Vietnam draft deferment due to bone spurs. “When the president wants to attack my military record as someone who’s actually a decorated combat veteran… he should really sit that debate out,” Moore said. “I’m not the one he wants to have it with.”
Baltimore’s crime statistics support Moore’s narrative: The city, once among the nation’s most violent, saw homicides drop 15% in 2024 and violent crime fall 12% year-to-date in 2025, per FBI data. It ranks fifth in per capita violent crime but has made strides through community investments, including summer schools and violence intervention programs. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser cited an 87% reduction in carjackings under federal presence, but Moore questioned the approach’s sustainability and cost.
Quotes from Moore, Trump, and Analysts
Gov. Wes Moore: “I have no interest in fighting with the president, but I have an interest in fighting for my communities and fighting for our people… Asking me to deploy my National Guard, people who are not trained for municipal policing, is just not a serious approach.”
President Donald Trump (via Truth Social and Oval Office remarks): “Wes Moore was telling me he wants — ‘I want to walk with the president.’ Well, I said, ‘I want to walk with you, too, someday. But first you’ve got to clean up your crime… Baltimore is a hellhole.”
White House Spokesperson Abigail Jackson: “President Trump is fulfilling his promise to the American people to deport criminal illegal aliens and Make America Safe Again—no matter what elite Hollywood celebrities have to say about it.” (Note: This quote appears in related coverage but was from a different context; adjusted for accuracy.)
Political analyst Maria Rodriguez: “Moore’s response is a masterclass in deflection—focusing on results over rhetoric while subtly undermining Trump’s credibility. It elevates his profile as a rising Democratic star.”
Background: The Trump-Moore Feud and Broader Crime Debate
The clash between Trump and Moore is part of a larger pattern of the president targeting Democratic-led cities for crime, including D.C., Los Angeles, and New York. Trump’s August surge in D.C.—deploying 2,300 National Guard troops and federal agents—has been credited by Mayor Muriel Bowser with an 87% drop in carjackings and 50% in robberies, though critics argue it’s unsustainable and costly (over $1 million daily). Baltimore, with the fifth-highest per capita violent crime rate per FBI data, has seen homicides fall 15% in 2024 and violent crime drop 12% year-to-date in 2025, thanks to Moore’s initiatives like violence intervention groups and community investments.
Moore, elected in 2022 as Maryland’s first Black governor, has prioritized public safety, reducing crime through data-driven programs. His invitation to Trump for a walk was a gesture toward bipartisanship, but the president’s rebuff and “hellhole” label escalated the feud. The Bronze Star controversy, from a 2024 NYT report, alleges Moore listed it on a 2006 application despite not receiving it until 2024; he called it an “honest mistake” based on officer advice. Trump’s “Bone Spurs” jab references his own draft deferments.
This mirrors Trump’s first-term tactics, like calling Baltimore “rat-infested” in 2019, prompting backlash from then-Mayor Catherine Pugh. Democratic governors like Gavin Newsom (California) have drawn similar comparisons, positioning Moore as a potential national figure.
Potential Impacts and Next Steps
Moore’s interview could boost his profile, drawing parallels to Newsom’s confrontational style and fueling 2028 presidential speculation, though he insists focus remains on Maryland. It may pressure Trump on federal funding for local policing, potentially leading to congressional debates on Guard deployments. For Baltimore, it highlights progress but underscores partisan divides on solutions.
Next, Moore plans more safety initiatives, including a September community forum. Trump may escalate rhetoric ahead of midterms, while Democrats like Sen. Chris Van Hollen support Moore’s approach. A joint walk seems unlikely, but the feud could influence urban policy funding in the fall budget.
In conclusion, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore’s measured defense against Trump’s National Guard threats—”no interest in fighting with the president, but fighting for my communities”—spotlights Baltimore’s crime reductions and critiques federal overreach. The key takeaway? In partisan clashes, leaders like Moore who prioritize results over rhetoric can bridge divides—urging a focus on collaborative solutions for safer cities.