Trump trades blows with Dem governors

President Donald Trump on Tuesday stepped up his rivalry with Democratic leaders of Maryland, Virginia and Washington over a massive sewage spill into the Potomac River, escalating into a complex political battle.

More than 200 million gallons of wastewater have gushed into the Potomac in recent weeks. In January, a pipe collapsed in the Potomac Interceptor sewer line next to the Clara Barton Parkway in Maryland, just outside the District of Columbia. The pipe and sewer line is managed as follows: DC WaterAn independent organization serving the capital region and managing the disaster.

Trump on Tuesday demanded that regional Democratic leaders ask him for help fixing the leak, and appeared to backtrack after announcing Monday that his administration would take over the recovery effort.

“DC’s two Governors and Mayors must take immediate action,” Trump said. Real Social Post on Tuesday referring to Democratic Governments. Wes Moore of Maryland, Abigail Spanberger of Virginia and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, also a Democrat. “If they can’t do the job, they need to call me and politely ask me to fix it. The Federal Government has no interest in what’s going on, but we can fix it.”

Trump singled out Moore on another issue Monday Real Social post He said the leak was “a result of Gross Mismanagement by Local Democratic Leaders, particularly Maryland Governor Wes Moore.”

The sewer debate comes amid a series of fights the president has had with state leaders, particularly Moore, who is seen as a potential Democratic presidential candidate in 2028. It’s also the latest example of Trump using the presidential bully pulpit to defeat political rivals, including Moore.

Moore replied a post on x He wrote in Trump’s post that the spill was “basically contained” and asked the White House to instead help with emergency funding to help the state recover from last year’s flooding.

Ammar Moussa, Moore’s spokesman, said it was Trump, not Maryland, who was responsible for the Potomac Interceptor and accused the president of evading responsibility.

“For the last century, the federal government has been responsible for the Potomac Interceptor, the source of sewage spills,” Moussa said in a statement. he said. “The Trump administration apparently didn’t get the memo that they should be the primary liability here. Where the president failed to act, Maryland did its part to protect residents, protect drinking water, and ensure accountability.”

Because the Potomac Interceptor is owned and operated by DC Water, it is a federally regulated piece of infrastructure under the oversight of the Environmental Protection Agency, Moore’s office said.

The governor’s office added that it would be willing to work with federal officials if they are willing to help with the recovery.

“If the federal government is coming forward to take action at this time, we will work collaboratively, as we always do, to be responsive and inform the public about the federal government’s plan to repair the damage,” Moussa said. “The Potomac is not a topic for discussion, and the community deserves serious leadership that is appropriate for the times.”

But the White House blames local elected Democrats for the disaster.

“President Trump will not allow local and state Democrat failures to diminish the quality of life for millions of Americans,” White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said in a statement to CNBC. “In keeping with the President’s promise to make Washington, D.C., safe and beautiful, President Trump may have to step in and fix this disaster created by Democrats whose gross mismanagement has allowed millions of gallons of raw sewage to be dumped into the Potomac River.”

A White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Maryland is responsible for Potomac River water quality standards within its borders and for enforcing regulations that require “sewer system operators to report, monitor and reduce unauthorized discharges affecting the state’s surface waters.”

The sewage spill had no impact on drinking water in Washington, according to DC Water. The overflow was stopped at the end of January and sewage is now being diverted around the broken pipe. However, due to sewage mixing with the river, the region’s Ministry of Energy and Environment warned residents to stay away from the river. The Potomac is the source of drinking water for the District of Columbia and a popular destination for canoeing and other recreational activities.

The Environmental Protection Agency said it could support recovery efforts if desired.

“At no point did DC Water or the state of Maryland ask EPA to assume its responsibilities, and EPA continued to offer its full support to state and local leaders from the beginning. We are always ready to step in and assist with our outstanding team,” the EPA press office said in a statement to CNBC. he said.

“The overflow at the Potomac Interceptor is a sewage crisis of historic proportions. No American family, community or waterway should suffer this level of extensive environmental damage,” the press office said.