Maryland Governor Wes Moore isn’t holding back after President Trump attached his service record. On his social media platform, Trump recently revived controversy surrounding Moore’s military record.
The New York Times previously reported that Moore had inaccurately claimed a Bronze Star in a 2006 White House fellowship application. During his 2022 campaign, old clips also resurfaced from 2008 and 2010 in which Moore was introduced as a Bronze Star recipient without correcting the record.
Moore, who had been recommended for the medal but did not officially receive it until last year, has described the matter as an “honest mistake.”
Martha: Let's talk about President Trump. You've called him President bone spurs…
— Ron Smith (@Ronxyz00) August 31, 2025
Moore: Well, when the President wants to attack my military record, as someone who is actually a decorated combat veteran, as someone who has served overseas, as someone who has defended the… pic.twitter.com/PS4VhtCO2G
In a recent interview with ABC News’ Martha Raddatz, Moore pushed back forcefully, reminding the public of his combat experience and contrasting it with Trump’s own lack of military service.
“When the president wants to attack my military record as someone who is actually a decorated combat veteran, as someone who actually has served overseas, as someone who has defended the country, I just think that if the president wants to have a real debate about public service and about the sacrifice for this country, he should really sit that debate out,” Moore said. “I’m not the one he wants to have it with.”
Moore, 45, has long framed his military career as central to both his personal identity and public leadership. After graduating from Johns Hopkins University and earning a Rhodes Scholarship, he served as a captain and paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division in the U.S. Army.
His service included a combat deployment to Afghanistan in 2005, where he led troops in some of the most volatile regions of the country.
For his leadership and performance under fire, Moore was awarded the Bronze Star, one of the military’s most prestigious decorations. He also served as a White House Fellow advising on national security issues before moving into public service, writing, and ultimately politics.
That record stands tall against Trump, who received medical deferments for bone spurs during the Vietnam War, a fact Moore highlighted by nicknaming him “President Bone Spurs.”
For Moore, military service isn’t just a résumé line; it’s a lived experience that informs his approach to leadership, sacrifice, and duty.
By highlighting his combat service, Moore is making the case that conversations about patriotism and public service carry more weight from those who have lived it.
