Maryland Governor Wes Moore, the nation’s only Black governor, sharply criticized President Donald Trump in a recent interview with Jen Psaki, accusing him of being “wholly obsessed” with Moore rather than focusing on the American people. The comments come amid a growing public feud between the two, highlighted by Moore being uninvited from this year’s National Governors Association (NGA) dinner, an annual bipartisan gathering with the President.
I wish @realdonaldtrump was as obsessed with the American people as he is with me. pic.twitter.com/M1Eu8NaINQ
— Wes Moore (@iamwesmoore) February 19, 2026
Moore described Trump’s behavior as a distraction from pressing issues facing citizens. “I wish the President wasn’t as obsessed with me and he’d be more obsessed with the American people and what they’re going through,” Moore said. He pointed to legislative initiatives in Maryland aimed at lowering supermarket prices, capping energy costs, and generating economic development, noting that while he and other governors focus on tangible policy solutions, Trump has been preoccupied with “changing the colors on Air Force One” and frequent social media posts targeting Moore.
The dispute intensified after Moore was excluded from the NGA dinner despite being selected by his peers to serve as Vice Chair. Moore called the decision “a blatant disrespect and a snub” to the long-standing tradition designed to foster bipartisan cooperation between governors and the White House. He highlighted the added significance of the exclusion as the nation’s only Black governor, emphasizing that it carried “added weight — whether that was the intent or not.”
This week, I learned that I was uninvited to this year’s National Governors Association dinner — a decades-long annual tradition meant to bring governors from both parties together to build bonds and celebrate a shared service to our citizens with the President of the United…
— Governor Wes Moore (@GovWesMoore) February 8, 2026
Trump publicly defended the decision, criticizing Moore’s leadership in Maryland, including allegations about misrepresenting his military record and management of state infrastructure and crime issues. In contrast, Moore emphasized his commitment to collaboration, stating that he remains “ready to work with the administration anywhere we can deliver results,” while maintaining that he will “work with anybody but bow down to nobody.”
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 11, 2026
Moore also addressed broader cultural and political issues, including Trump’s approach to Black History Month. He argued that the president’s gestures and statements fail to meaningfully engage with the challenges facing the Black community, framing the debate as one about understanding the country’s history rather than focusing on personal relationships or symbolic appearances.
The feud underscores a rare moment of direct confrontation between a sitting president and a governor, with Moore framing the dispute as a distraction from policy priorities. His comments reflect ongoing tensions in federal-state relations and highlight the spotlight placed on Moore both as a political leader and as the only Black governor in the United States.
