Trump touts Anduril shipyard investment; Maryland governor blocked from speaking

President Donald Trump on Tuesday touted a $3.7 billion investment by the military technology company Anduril to build components for nuclear-powered submarines at a Baltimore-area shipyard, the Associated Press reported. The site was Sparrows Point, Maryland, which formerly housed a steel mill for Bethlehem Steel that closed in 2012. “The workers of Baltimore and the shipyard here at Sparrows Point have been a vital part of the American industrial strength for literally over a hundred years,” Trump said, adding that the work being done “is going to be a big component for our future military.” [ 6 ]

Democratic Gov. Wes Moore, who said his office worked with the company for over a year to bring the deal together, did not attend and did not speak at the event. “If the president of the United States wants to bring the circus in town and tell me that I’m not allowed to speak, despite the fact we were the ones that helped bring the deal, then I will let the circus be conducted while I go back to the work of the people of Maryland,” Moore told reporters Tuesday. A spokesperson for the governor said Moore “has always said he will work with anyone when it comes to delivering for Marylanders but bow to no one when it comes to standing up for them,” and that he was “proud to welcome Anduril to Baltimore County and the thousands of permanent jobs this investment is bringing to our state.” [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]

The White House said Moore had been invited to the event as a guest and accused him of making the announcement about himself. “It’s unfortunate that the Governor is now making a multi-billion-dollar announcement about himself by throwing a tantrum over an announcement that will bring sorely needed jobs back to his state thanks to President Trump,” a White House official told The Hill. CNN reported that a White House official did not dispute Moore’s account that he was blocked from speaking, while Newsweek reported that the White House rejected Moore’s claim. The documents do not resolve the disagreement. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]

The outlets differ on the size of the investment. The Washington Post reported a $6.6 billion investment, while The Hill and the Associated Press reported $3.7 billion. CNN reported that the Navy is awarding Anduril a $2.9 billion contract, and said the deal involves bringing the defense technology firm to a former steel plant on the Patapsco River to make components for Virginia-class submarines. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 6 ]

The Associated Press reported the new facility is expected to create 3,100 direct jobs with several thousand more indirect jobs being supported. In a statement, Moore said the project could potentially create “the most jobs in Maryland in history.” Before the event, guests, including several dozen service members, mingled with food and drinks, the AP reported. [ 6 ]

Trump’s remarks focused on the project’s place in American industry; Newsweek reported he largely spoke about other administration policies and did not mention Moore’s absence. Moore was not the only Maryland Democrat to miss the event — a source told The Hill’s sister network NewsNation that Sen. Chris Van Hollen was unable to attend. In the pre-program, Anduril co-founder and CEO Brian Schimpf thanked several people who helped make the announcement possible, including Moore, Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Baltimore County Executive Kathy Klausmeier, CNN reported. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]

The Associated Press described the event as one of a series Trump is holding across the country to showcase investments in factories, as high gasoline prices from the Iran war and persistently elevated inflation have damaged the president’s approval ratings on the economy. The AP said Trump is trying to rally Republican voters with less than a month before the midterm elections on Nov. 3, and noted the event was in the solidly blue state of Maryland. Moore, who is seeking reelection, is considered a potential presidential candidate in 2028, the AP reported. [ 6 ]