If Maryland loses the FBI headquarters it thought it won in a beauty contest during the Biden administration, Governor Wes Moore may have only himself - and his devotees in the press - to blame. Moore lashed out at President Donald Trump after Trump declared the FBI would be staying in D.C. during a speech at the Department of Justice last week. He called Trump's statement political - and he was right, but not in the way he thought. It was Moore who played politics badly almost a month ago.
Moore initially took a more measured approach after Trump's victory last November. It appeared their relationship was off to a promising start when Trump appointed Moore to the bipartisan Council of Governors last month. But then Moore attended a meeting of governors from across the country at The White House, and went on a press tour to say that Trump had gone "off the rails" at the event. Eager to champion any Democrat who will forcefully take on Trump, and overeager to bolster Moore's bid for the presidency in 2028, the media began publishing reports and encouraging Moore to boost his attacks.
"Maryland Governor Wes Moore appears to have dismissed any possibility of working with President Donald Trump," Maryland Matters reported. "Any possibility?" Does that sound like a wise position to take when the state depends on the federal government in so many ways?
Moore told reporters that he supported Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown's lawsuits against the Trump administration. He said he was "deeply underwhelmed" and "troubled" by Trump. Moore described Trump's speech as "an hour-long diatribe of conspiracy theories and attacks." The Baltimore Sun said Moore was "more determined to push back" against the President. Many Democrats and journalists were positively giddy about Moore's rants against Trump, despite a replacement Key Bridge and the FBI HQ being just two major projects hanging in the balance.
Imagine if Moore had taken a different approach, especially knowing that other politicians have followed a rather simple strategy to forge a successful relationship with Trump. Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has met privately with Trump for dialogue outside of the public view, rather than fire invective through the press. She has acceded to several Trump priorities over the last few months, either by verbal intent, or by action, such as the removal of Black Lives Matter Plaza. As a result, a major cut to the D.C. budget was overturned by the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate at the 11th hour, and Trump has so far not followed through on his threats to intervene in city affairs.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, off to a rocky start at home, put on a master class in Trump diplomacy during his White House visit. With a flourish, out came an invitation to visit King Charles, a clear play on Trump's oft-stated affection for the British Royal Family. And the contrasting approaches of Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan toward Trump have had predictably-opposite outcomes. All three of those who established a successful rapport with Trump used a combination of flattery and pragmatism, while holding firm on certain principles that were cast as furthering Trump's objectives. Those who simply attacked ended up empty handed.
It's no surprise, then, that Trump would not hesitate to pull back the FBI headquarters after a barrage of attacks from Moore through the media. In a state that has failed to score any big economic development wins in the private sector for decades, fumbling the rare infusion of government largess the FBI HQ represented was an unforced error by Moore.
Rendering via Prince George's County
26 comments:
"Imagine if Moore had taken a different approach"
Imagine if you were tethered to reality. Are you new to covering this issue? Were you not alive during Trump's first term? You seriously think if Moore has been more spineless this exact thing wouldn't still have happened? Delusional.
Lol it's nice that you think this is Moore's fault, but there's no way Trump would have built a new FBI HQ in Greenbelt, especially since it was an Obama/Biden project. They might not even keep it in the region.
Moore is 100% right to go after Trump since his gutting of the federal govt hurts Maryland residents more than those of any other state. At least someone is standing up for his residents unlike the clown MAGA gov of VA who has sold out his state in his futile hope (LOL) of ever becoming president.
Ironically, it was Moore's politics shot us in the foot. We lose but Moore won't be second guessed by our now limping constituency. Taxes will always fix these problems. Maryland is fast becoming little different than California or New York, another irony is that maybe CA and NY might be walking up a bit but Moore isn't yet enlightened to the new power dynamic. Moore is all hat and no cattle.
If Moore had a different approach indeed. Trump doesn't respect Moore as far as he can throw him. They are on different sides. Fine but you have to play the game. One phone call to the governer's office in Richmond and that FBI HQ in VA is a done deal. It will not happen in MD. Period. I wish MD had a recall iniative but we don't. Moore is a decent man as I have said. But tax and spend, regulate, go against the Trump grain isn't good for anyone. MD loses. Fact.
As I'm not a fan of this tax & spend governor I wouldn't place all the blame on him if the building never gets built. Patel has stated correctly that this is essentially a government vanity project, (as is virtually everything Moore puts his name on). Now if it does get built somewhere else, Moore can chew on that loss for a while.
Trump said this was not a political decision. Are you calling my president a liar? Are you even a real American or are you an immigrant?
Trump seems to have a bit of a chip on his shoulder nowadays. But can anybody blame him after what the Dems put him through? As I often say, whatever the worst things Trump has ever done in his life they are nothing compared to the Dem malfeasance of weaponizing the US "justice" system against him. That and the temerity of nobody federal judges enjoining various actions that are well within Trump's authority as POTUS are doing more to sow contempt for the judiciary than most anything I can remember. We'll see how it all hashes out.
I'm pretty sure Maryland voters are equally to blame.
Trump acts like a petulant child...Maryland pays. Governors do not have to kiss his ass and play his stupid loyalty games. You are groveling and excusing a grifting tv personality...and it's more than sad, it's pathetic.
2:57 - You mean the candidate that the majority of the county selected as its president? Give it time. He hasn't even reached 100 days yet and has had so many accomplishments it's hard to fathom. More in 50 days than old Biden the ad in 4 years.
Let's not forget that Wes Moore is a former young Republican posing as a Democrat. He became a Democrat because it was an expedient path to success. The reality of politics - and life - is that you sometimes have to work with people whom you disagree with to get things done. Look at the results of Claudia Sheinbaum vs. Justin Trudeau in dealing with Trump - they speak for themselves!
Yes, so many "accomplishments." No one has ever sent a country into the toilet faster. Biden could never even dream of doing this.
Democrats including Moore are a parody of group think with zero ideas which is why "in this moment" they are now polling, (CNN/MSNBC), in the toilet but haven't gotten the memo. Frankly I'm enjoying the meltdowns on the left as Trump has completely reclaimed the working class.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZsJS45M7qs
I assume 2:57 wouldn't mind housing those Venezuelan gang members in their basement.
I realize this is hard to grasp but being a leader is getting things done for the majority without worrying about what the outrage of the day is on fringe left. Didn't you and the entire leftist cabal say that the border couldn't controlled without a "new border bill"? Do you guys ever get tired of being proven liars?
No one crashes our economy and stock market better than Trump. No one undermines our allies and alliances better than Trump. No one ruins American soft power like Trump. Happiest two months ever for anyone who enjoys seeing the dramatic decline of America's strength and moral standing.
Trump has done more for us already than Biden did in his entire term!!!!!! Lets get rid of all these illegals!!!!!!!! Lets go trump!!! <3
FICTION! Such a false narrative. SMDH.
Young Republican? I find no reference to that in his career and challenge you to prove it.
TFG i.e. tRump is the worlds BIGGEST LIAR and narcissist to ever walk the earth. Everyone knows your dictator wannabe is a Pinocchio. Oh, and it was political AND personal (infused with his hate).
He put himself through his own misery, and should be behind bars.
@ 3:50 - FACT, a majority of the people in this county didn't not select this bum as their president, so stop with your patent lies. As for accomplishments you are correct, he has managed to destroy what dignity the majority of this country's government works had in their careers, by unilaterally throwing them to the curb with no justification. You don't send a bunch of computer brats to evaluate the careers of professionals, fire them and then ask some of them to come back because up F'd up. Asinine.
942 is an angry liberal full of MSNBC stats. Trump won ALL the swing states and increased percentages across the board, (except white women possibly like yourself). Keep in mind that The View isn't real news so parroting Joy Behar doesn't carry any weight. Did I mention the Republicans have a majority in the house & senate as well? Sorry, couldn't resist!
8:31 AM: Here it is in black and white - he was also an aide to Condoleeza Rice in the Bush administration before switching parties.
https://x.com/Patrick88297358/status/1868086235031609465
8:42 - The meltdown is fun to watch as was said by another. Trump won every swing state, the electoral college and the popular vote. Is that not accurate? That's ok, we know and you know that it is. Hard pill to swallow. Can you imagine how bad things would be under Cam-a-la Harris? The American people couldn't possibly fathom that horror and thanfully kept their heads on election day.
9:50 - Touche! Robert, well done.
8:34 - Thanfully, the American people didn't see it your way, MSNBC's way, The View's way, Rosie O'Donnell's way. Harris would have been 10 million times worse and even the Dems knew that. Worst candidate maybe ever. Makes Hilary look great by comparison and she was a 3-time loser.
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