Trump, Maryland Governor Wes Moore spar over massive jobs deal during president's visit

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND: President Donald Trump and Maryland Governor Wes Moore on Tuesday, October 6, clashed over who should be credited for a $3.7 billion Anduril Industries investment at Sparrows Point in Baltimore County.

Trump highlighted the project during a visit to the site, where Anduril plans to build components for Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines and create about 3,100 jobs. Moore, a Democrat, said his administration had been working with the company for more than a year to secure the investment but was blocked from speaking at the presidential event.

Trump touts Anduril investment at former steel site

Trump announced the new project, Anduril's Arsenal 2, will establish a new high-tech shipyard at Sparrows Point, a site that was once home to Bethlehem Steel. The company expects the $3.7 billion development to create more than 3,100 direct jobs and support thousands of additional existing jobs, making it one of Maryland's largest private-sector job announcements in more than a decade.

The federal government is also committing $2.9 billion through a Navy contract to purchase products from the facility. The broader investment and federal commitment total up to $6.6 billion. Maryland and Baltimore County have committed to matching up to 13% of Anduril's investment, or about $481 million, subject to approval by local legislative bodies.

Trump used the event to emphasize the site's industrial history and the administration's push to expand US shipbuilding. He described the project as part of a broader effort to restore manufacturing capacity and highlighted the role Sparrows Point played in American industry.

“Today, we're officially announcing the construction of the largest new shipyard in the United States. Since World War II, there's been nothing like what we're doing today,” Trump said. He also praised the area's workers, saying, “The workers of Baltimore and the shipyard here at Sparrows Point have been a vital part of the American industrial strength for literally over 100 years.”

Moore says he was blocked from speaking at Trump event

However, Maryland governor Moore said that his administration had been involved in negotiations with Anduril for more than a year and argued that Maryland's role in bringing the project to the state should have been acknowledged at the event.

“This was a deal that we helped bring. This is going to be the largest private investment that we have seen in over a decade inside of the state of Maryland. It's bringing 3,100 jobs,” Moore said.

The governor then criticized the decision not to allow him to speak at Trump's event, saying that “if the President of the United States wants to bring the circus into town and tell me that I'm not allowed to speak to the fact that we were the ones who helped bring the deal, then I will let the circus be conducted while I go back to the work of the people of Maryland." 

The White House said Moore had been invited to attend the event but only as a guest. A White House official accused the governor of “throwing a tantrum” and said the announcement would bring jobs to Maryland “thanks to President Trump.”