Source: Politics<\/p>\n
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, a combat veteran who led troops in the Army\u2019s 82nd Airborne Division in Afghanistan, accused President Donald Trump of displaying \u201ca lack of seriousness\u201d in dealing with the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs someone who has worn this uniform, and you know, along with my fellow service members risked my life in defense of this country, to see such a free-wheeling conversation about issues of life and death is disappointing,” Moore said in an interview Thursday.<\/p>\n
Moore\u2019s comments come a day after Trump said at the White House that he delivered an \u201cultimate ultimatum\u201d to leaders in Tehran about disarming their nuclear program while also telling reporters \u201cI may do it, I may not do it\u201d with regard to the U.S. striking Iran\u2019s nuclear sites.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, the White House said Trump will make a decision<\/a> on whether to strike Iran within two weeks.<\/p>\n Moore, seen as a rising star in the Democratic Party and a potential 2028 presidential contender, emphasized the huge stakes at play in the ongoing and escalating Mideast conflict.<\/p>\n \u201cThese are serious issues and these are very serious times,\u201d Moore said. \u201cThe lack of seriousness that is surrounding these conversations, the whole \u2018will I-won\u2019t I\u2019 playing games is not helpful to this larger conversation. \u2026 These are people\u2019s lives on the line.\u201d<\/p>\n The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n The first-term governor has been sharpening his critiques of the Trump administration after previously saying<\/a> he was \u201cnot the leader of the resistance.\u201d<\/p>\n Moore had previously railed against the Trump administration<\/a>’s issuing pink slips to federal workers and said those moves posed a threat to the nation\u2019s national security and global competitiveness.<\/p>\n Moore\u2019s comments come as the nation is observing Juneteenth, a federal holiday that marks the official end of slavery in the nation and a day where the governor unveiled a series of actions, including one that makes some 7,000 people convicted for simple cannabis possession eligible for pardon.<\/p>\n The nation\u2019s only Black governor, who is up for reelection in 2026, has been criticized by some in his party over a decision to veto a reparation\u2019s bill passed by Maryland\u2019s Democratic-controlled state Legislature. The measure called for a yearslong study of race-based inequality in the state.<\/p>\n Recently, Moore has been raising his national profile ahead of a potential bid for the White House \u2014 even as he continues to publicly deny he\u2019s running.<\/p>\n He was in early primary state South Carolina last month delivering a brief speech at Rep. Jim Clyburn\u2019s annual fish fry, and also served as the keynote speaker at a South Carolina Democratic Party dinner and fundraiser<\/a> \u2014 both must-attend events for Democratic White House hopefuls.<\/p>\n In early May, Moore traveled to Pennsylvania, one of the nation\u2019s most important swing states, to deliver a commencement address at Lincoln University, a historically Black college, while also appearing on \u201cThe View.\u201d In March, he served as the headliner at the annual Gridiron Club dinner.<\/p>\n When asked Thursday whether his time in South Carolina changed his mind about launching a presidential run, he responded: \u201cThe reception was very good. And I’m still not running.\u201d<\/p>\n