‘Didn’t happen’: Trump’s head-scratching claim smacked down by governor's staff

Transcript:President Donald Trump trashed Baltimore, Maryland, during the signing of an executive order on Monday, claiming that Gov. Wes Moore had given him glowing praise. The reality, however, is something very different. "It's a deathbed," Trump said of Baltimore. "I know Gov. Moore said, 'Oh, he wants to take a walk with me.' He meant it in a derogatory tone. I said, no, no, no, I'm the president of the United States. Clean up your crime and I'll walk with you. But there's — it's a tremendous crime. But he was trying to be derogatory. He doesn't have what it takes, but he's trying to be derogatory."He recalled meeting Moore at the Army-Navy game and claimed that at the time, the governor gushed with praise. "They said, 'Oh, there's Gov. Moore, he'd love to see you,'" recalled Trump from the Oval Office. "He came over to me. He hugged me, shook my hand. You were there. He said, 'Sir, you're the greatest president in my lifetime.' I said, 'It's really nice that you say that, I'd love you to say it publicly. But I don't think you can do that.' So, it's OK. But no. 'Sir, you're doing a fantastic job. I want to just shake your hand.'""Thank you very much, governor," Trump said he told Moore. "And then, uh, every time I see him on television, he's knocking the hell out of me," Trump continued. "So, but that's alright. That's called politics."Raw Story reached out to Moore's campaign about the incident to ask if that was the way the interaction unfolded. "Didn't happen," communications director Carter Elliott said about Trump's rant. "There's literally a video of the whole interaction," he added. Trump and Moore have spent the past week feuding on social media and on television. At one point, Moore invited Trump to take a walk with him in Baltimore. But twice, so far, Trump has refused, indicating it was too dangerous for him. "President Bone Spurs will do anything to get out of walking," Moore quipped in response to Trump on X over the weekend. Trump turned down his offer to take a walk in Baltimore. "Even if that means spouting off more lies about the progress we're making on public safety in Maryland. Hey Donald, we can get you a golf cart if that makes things easier. Just let my team know."The governor served 16 years in the U. S. Army, including service in combat, and he has participated as governor in the morning PT routine with the U. S. Naval Academy, personal training on the basketball court, and showing off his pull-ups.Our Analysis:Trump's Baltimore Bluster: A Masterclass in MisdirectionPresident Donald Trump's recent tirade against Baltimore, Maryland, and its governor, Wes Moore, is a spectacle of misinformation and political theatrics worthy of its own analysis. Trump's comments during the signing of an executive order, where he labeled Baltimore a "deathbed" of crime, and his subsequent storytelling about an alleged encounter with Gov. Moore, are not just misleading—they're a strategic distraction.The Tale of Two TrumpsOn one hand, we have Trump, the master storyteller, painting himself as a slighted hero amidst a crime-ridden city. He claims Moore had showered him with praise, only to turn his back on him publicly. Trump's narrative is clear: he is the misunderstood savior, thwarted by ungrateful politicians.On the other hand, we have the reality, starkly contrasting Trump's account. Moore's communications director, Carter Elliott, succinctly discredited Trump's recollection with a simple, "Didn't happen." This denial is further bolstered by Elliott's mention of a video capturing the entire interaction between Trump and Moore, suggesting Trump's account may be more fiction than fact.The Irony of AvoidanceTrump's refusal to walk with Moore in Baltimore, citing safety concerns, is an ironic twist, given his past avoidance of military service, for which Moore subtly mocked him. Trump's avoidance is presented under the guise of concern for public safety, yet it seems more like a convenient excuse to disengage from a direct challenge. Moore's offer and subsequent jab, suggesting a golf cart for Trump, not only highlights Trump's evasion but also underscores the governor's physical commitment and contrast with Trump's well-documented aversion to strenuous activity.The Actual State of BaltimoreTrump's characterization of Baltimore as a “deathbed” plagued by "tremendous crime" is a gross oversimplification and demonization of a city with a complex social and economic landscape. While not denying the challenges Baltimore faces, Trump's rhetoric serves to dehumanize and vilify without offering substantive solutions or acknowledging the efforts being made to address these issues.Political Theatre at Its FinestTrump's comments and the ensuing feud with Moore are emblematic of a broader strategy often employed in political discourse: distraction and division. By focusing on personal slights and exaggerated narratives, Trump diverts attention from more pressing national issues and policy discussions. This tactic, while effective in keeping him in the spotlight, does little to address the real challenges faced by communities like Baltimore or to foster constructive dialogue.In Conclusion, Trump's recent outburst against Baltimore and Gov. Moore is a masterclass in misdirection and political theatrics. His narratives, often divorced from reality, serve not to enlighten but to entertain and distract. As observers and constituents, we must sift through this theatrical fog and focus on the tangible actions and policies that will genuinely impact our communities. Baltimore deserves more than to be used as a prop in political feuds; it deserves concerted efforts towards sustainable improvement and safety.