Maryland Governor Wes Moore is facing backlash after being photographed vacationing at George Clooney’s estate in Lake Como, Italy, while tensions rise between him and former President Donald Trump over crime in Baltimore and Washington, D.C. Moore and his wife Dawn were seen relaxing on Clooney’s yacht, drawing criticism for the optics amid a serious public safety debate.

The vacation came just days after Moore rejected Trump’s proposal to deploy the National Guard to Baltimore. While Moore welcomed federal assistance, he argued that using the National Guard would be ineffective and overly performative, advocating instead for support from law enforcement agencies like the FBI.

Moore reiterated his position in media interviews, stating that the National Guard is not trained for urban crime intervention. He emphasized that community safety should be handled by professionals familiar with the local landscape, not by military forces brought in for show.

In contrast, Trump has defended his deployment of the National Guard in Washington, D.C., citing statistics showing significant reductions in crime. According to the Metropolitan Police Department, violent crime dropped by 45% and carjackings by 87% since the Guard’s arrival. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser praised the effort, and Attorney General Pam Bondi reported over 1,400 arrests and 151 illegal firearms seized in under a month.

Trump has criticized Moore harshly, calling Baltimore a “hell hole” and pointing to Moore’s controversial résumé misstatement about a Bronze Star. Moore, in turn, accused Trump of using racist stereotypes and lacking understanding of Baltimore’s communities.

Despite the controversy, Moore’s national profile continues to rise. George Clooney has praised him as a strong contender for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination, calling him a “unifying candidate” who has shown leadership in difficult times. The public feud may only further elevate Moore’s visibility on the national stage.