President Donald Trump visited Baltimore on Tuesday to announce the development of a new Navy shipbuilding facility on the site of the former Bethlehem Steel plant, a $6.6 billion project expected to create more than 3,000 permanent jobs. The contract, awarded to defense technology company Anduril, includes the manufacture of key components for the Navy’s Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarines.

The announcement, held on the Baltimore waterfront, was intended to highlight a significant investment in local manufacturing and military infrastructure. Trump told a crowd largely composed of sailors, “We will build the future of America’s Navy right here in Baltimore.”

However, the event was marked by tension between the White House and Maryland’s Democratic Governor Wes Moore, who said he was prevented from speaking at the ceremony. Moore, who has been involved in the negotiations alongside state lawmakers to secure tax incentives and bring the project to Maryland, expressed frustration outside a separate event, saying President Trump had turned the announcement into a partisan spectacle.

“We have been working with them for over a year to bring them onboard, and we’re excited about what it’s going to mean for the area,” Moore said. “But if the president of the United States wants to bring the circus into town and tell me that I’m not allowed to speak to the fact that 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.”

A White House spokeswoman responded by calling Moore a “diva,” stating that he was invited to attend the event as a guest and that the administration had "worked extensively" with his staff and security team in preparation. She characterized his decision not to participate as a boycott intended to focus attention on himself rather than the economic benefits of the project.

The new shipyard, named Arsenal Two by Anduril, is slated to open in 2030. Christian Brose, Anduril’s president and chief strategy officer, said the company plans to invest $3.7 billion in the facility. While the firm is known for artificial intelligence-supported defense technology, Brose indicated that manufacturing unmanned weapons such as drone boats is not included in the project’s initial scope.

Political analysts note that the discord between Trump and Moore reflects deeper partisan divides in Maryland. Todd Eberly, a political science professor at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, commented that Trump rarely shares credit and is unlikely to support a Democratic governor politically, especially in a state that leans Democratic. He also suggested that Moore, who has not ruled out a national political bid, would have little incentive to appear supportive of the president in a public forum.

The announcement comes amid ongoing political efforts by Trump to energize his base ahead of the midterm elections, with recent polls highlighting voter dissatisfaction over issues such as the war with Iran and inflation. The shipyard project serves as a demonstration of his administration’s pledge to revive domestic manufacturing and create jobs, particularly in industries tied to national security.

Additionally, the announcement followed recent news that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appointed Anduril co-founder Palmer Luckey to a high-profile Pentagon task force focused on the future of warfare, joining figures such as Elon Musk and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.