WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump can’t seem to stop talking about Maryland Gov. Wes Moore.
He declined an invitation to a White House dinner with national leaders from both parties later this week, saying he was “unworthy” of attending the event. He also harshly criticized Moore’s sewage leak for polluting the Potomac River, even though the pipeline in question was part of a federally regulated utility.
Trump may soon have more reasons to complain about Moore, the nation’s only black governor. Moore is trying to redraw Maryland’s congressional map in favor of Democrats, part of a nationwide redistricting fight Trump has begun to help Republicans in the midterm elections.
If Moore can overcome resistance from key members of his party in the state Legislature, the tide could continue to turn in Democrats’ favor.
Moore, who is often considered a potential Democratic presidential candidate, is vice president of the National Governors Association, which is holding its annual conference in Washington this week. He spoke to The Associated Press on Wednesday at the start of his visit. The following is a transcript of the interview, edited for length and clarity.
Redistricting
Q: You met with Democratic House Leader Hakeem Jeffries to discuss redistricting. Can you tell me what you understand about this meeting and whether there will be an up-and-down vote in the Maryland Legislature?
A: All we ask is a vote. Whatever the outcome of the vote, the outcome of the vote. But this is democracy.
Q: What do you see as your role within the party?
A: I don’t look at it because of what I’m doing because I’m trying to help a political party. I do this because I think we have an unfettered executive branch and now Congress doesn’t seem interested in actually doing its job and creating real checks and balances.
I’m watching what Donald Trump does. This wouldn’t be a problem if Donald Trump hadn’t said, you know what, let me think of every creative way I can think of to perpetuate this pain. One of the ways he did that was, let’s start calling states – my chosen states – and let’s have a redistricting conversation in the middle of the decade.
This wouldn’t even be an issue if Donald Trump hadn’t brought this up and introduced it into the ecosystem.
Trump relationship
Q: Speaking of the president, have you ever wondered why he escalates his criticism of you on everything from not inviting you to dinner parties to criticizing the Potomac River sewage spill?
A: This would actually be quite funny if it wasn’t so serious. This is a pipeline located on federal land in Washington, DC. I don’t know what this has to do with Maryland. I think he just woke up and just said, I hate Maryland, so I’m just going to introduce them into the conversation. This actually has nothing to do with us, except that when we first heard about what was going on, I ordered our team to assist Washington, D.C.
The short answer is I don’t know. I cannot understand the heart of the President.
Q: Do you take this personally?
A: I know it’s not for me. I don’t want to get into an argument with the President of the United States. That’s not what I was running for governor like, man, I can’t wait for me and the president to come face to face. I have no desire for it. But the fact that he woke up in the middle of the night and tweeted about me, I just prayed for him and I just felt bad for him because it was a really, really hard existence.
Trump and Black History Month
Q: The White House is currently commemorating Black History Month. Can you share your thoughts on the president’s relationship with the black community?
A: Look, I think the president has a very complicated history with the black community for a long time. We’re talking about a guy who was prosecuted from the beginning for his treatment of black tenants. We are talking about one of the founders of Birthism. We’re talking about a man who now spends his time trying to ban books about black history, a man who now spends his time waging the largest crackdown on black women’s unemployment in the history of our country. You know, so, I’m not sure what anyone’s going to take away from Donald Trump’s event on black history.
2028
Q: Do you think the next presidential candidate from either party might come from this group of governors?
A: I think the governor is the last line of defense in many ways because I think who the governor is is the most important.
Q: The country is so polarized. How do we reduce fever?
A: You always stay true to your identity. I think if you’re a polarizing person or a polarizing personality, that’s who you are. That was never me.
