In a forceful post on Instagram today, Governor Wes Moore responded to President Trump’s use of the National Guard to police the District of Columbia.
The impetus for the social media post came after the President brought up Moore’s criticism of the mobilization during a press opportunity in the Oval Office.
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In the Instagram post, Governor Moore explains he was on the Eastern Shore opening up a rural medical clinic, when the President attacked him from the Oval Office.
The President said, “The Governor of Maryland, I watched him this morning saying that… the National Guard, or the military’s not trained in police….”
Moore criticized the order to deploy the Guard as, “a performative decision to put military personnel in American cities to perform municipal policing functions.”
Moore then cited his own military career. “I have worn the uniform of this country. And I know what is being asked of these men and women every time we ask them to activate.”
The National Guard is called out to respond when states are in an emergency or crisis, Moore added. “Not to perform municipal policing functions.”
Moore ended his post, “So, if the President wants to have a real conversation about how to reduce violence, like we have had in the State of Maryland since I have been the Governor, where Maryland has had amongst the fastest drops in violent crime of anywhere in the United States of America, I am ready to have that conversation anytime, Mr. President.”
