Gov. Wes Moore’s recent national appearances have raised concerns among some Maryland residents and lawmakers about whether he is sufficiently focused on pressing state matters.

With the Maryland General Assembly running out of time to address the state’s historic $3.3 billion deficit, Senate Minority Whip Justin Ready, a Republican representing Carroll and Frederick counties, told Spotlight on Maryland that he is frustrated about the governor’s failure to answer important budget and tax proposal questions directly this session.

“My concerns are the decisions he’s made or, more accurately, the decisions he’s not making,” Ready said. “Instead of finger-pointing, Maryland taxpayers need him to roll up his sleeves and lead in Annapolis on the tough decisions.”

On busy Crossover Day in the state capital Monday, Del. Mark Fisher, a Calvert County Republican, tagged Gov. Moore’s social media account, urging him not to “‘Maryland’ the United States.”

“@GovWesMoore is busy running for president while ignoring Maryland,” Del. Fisher wrote.

Moore’s public schedule showed he made several private appearances on Saturday as the House held an 8-hour legislative session. The governor spent the morning at a closed press economic summit in Baltimore. He later attended an invitation-only gathering with some of the nation’s most prominent journalists at the 2025 Gridiron Spring Dinner in Washington, D.C.

Kaitlan Collins, a host and White House correspondent for CNN, reported on the governor’s satirical comments at the dinner through X late Saturday night.

“In the middle of the chaos, people are asking if I will be the new leader of the resistance,” Collins quoted Moore on social media. “My answer is always the same. That job is filled. And I wanna thank Sen. Mitch McConnell for fighting the good fight … which keep your head up, brother.”

The governor then appeared on CBS News’ “Face the Nation,” a Sunday talk show. The show’s host asked Moore about President Donald Trump’s announcement of a 25% trade tariff, scheduled to take effect April 2 on goods entering the country from Canada and Mexico.

“We are already seeing the impacts of these disastrous, and frankly, not well-thought-out policies when it comes to tariffs,” Moore said. “Tariffs are a tool. They’re not an ideology, but this administration is using it like an ideology.”

“We’re already seeing how this is going to have a significant impact on the Port of Baltimore, which is one of the country’s largest and most effective ports. It’s the largest port for roll-on, roll-off vehicles,” Moore added.

On Monday afternoon, which was a recognized port-wide holiday, shipping container traffic entering the port’s entrance extended approximately a mile from the security gate.

Citing ongoing litigation related to a container ship’s fatal collision that resulted in the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore Harbor last year, the Maryland Port Administration (MPA) denied Spotlight on Maryland’s interview request. However, a spokesperson provided limited information from the agency’s latest report.

“Our most recent numbers in 2025 are through January,” Richard Scher, an MPA spokesperson, said. “Cars and light trucks [shipments through the port] were up 10%. Containers were up 1%.”

“Total general cargo at the public terminals was down 3%,” Scher added.

Moore’s office announced on Feb. 25 that recovery milestones had been reached following the collapse of the Key Bridge. The governor praised port operations over a month after Trump was inaugurated.

On his first day in office, Jan. 20, Trump unveiled his initial tariff plan, saying he would impose tariffs on Mexico and Canada by Feb. 1. The announcement from the governor’s office did not mention the Trump administration or the White House tariff policy.

Spotlight on Maryland sent several questions to Moore’s office on Monday after visiting the entrance of the Port of Baltimore and obtaining transaction statistics, including:

Is Gov. Wes Moore focused on the state of Maryland?

Why did the governor claim that the Port of Baltimore is experiencing impacts from tariffs when recent data indicate an increase in car and container traffic?

Does the governor believe it is the best strategy for Marylanders to fight the Trump administration, or is he pursuing this option for political reasons?

Late Monday evening, Carter Elliott, the governor’s spokesperson, sent Spotlight on Maryland a response that did not directly address questions about his public comments on the Trump administration’s policies, the potential political motivations behind his strategy, and his focus on the national stage.

“Gov. Moore continued to have an aggressive travel schedule as he seeks to hear from Marylanders across the state,” Elliott wrote. “Since January 1, Gov. Moore had had nearly 100 visits all across the state of Maryland, traveling to Frederick County, Cecil County, Prince George’s County, Montgomery County, Baltimore City, Calvert County, Howard County, and Anne Arundel County — he’s met with local firefighters, spoke with the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, visited local elementary schools and farms.”

“Just today, the governor announced there would be no broad-based business-to-business service tax nor [sic] a sugary drink tax in the upcoming budget — two important issues he’s heard directly from Marylanders in the last several weeks,” Elliott added.

The governor’s office provided Spotlight on Maryland with pages of news articles about the potential impacts Trump’s tariffs could have on U.S. trade and commerce.

Meanwhile, Tyrone Keys, a Maryland financial services and real estate expert, told Spotlight on Maryland that the governor’s actions are telling.

“I think Gov. Moore is serving his political aspirations first and foremost because the people of Maryland are strapped,” Keys said. “We can’t afford anymore.”

Keys said that the governor may be losing support at home due to few solutions to the state’s budget deficit, stubbornly persistent juvenile crime and other critical issues facing the state under the Moore-Miller administration.

“I think it’s clear the things that he’s doing, the rounds that he’s making, are preludes to a run for the highest office: the White House,” Keys said. “We are looking at this $3 billion deficit, more taxes, more fees coming out of the pockets of hardworking Marylanders. Where’s it all going?”

A Gonzales Research Poll published in early March showed that Gov. Moore’s approval ratings decreased by six points compared to his January figures.

“We have enough issues right here for him to really dig into, and guess what? If he is really able to solve these issues, then he looks great for a presidential candidate at some point, but right now, we have enough problems here at home,” Keys said.

Follow Gary Collins with Spotlight on Maryland on X at @realgarycollins. Do you have news tips on this story or others? Send news tips to gmcollins@sbgtv.com.