BALTIMORE (WBFF) -- As the conversation continues about federal resources in Maryland to help curb violence, Gov. Wes Moore doubled down on his resistance to the National Guard that President Donald Trump has offered, while some argue the ongoing back-and-forth isn't good for the state long-term.

During an interview with FOX45 News on Aug. 29, Gov. Moore made it clear: he does want federal assistance, just not the way President Trump is offering.

"I absolutely want federal assistance," Gov. Moore said, but not in the form of the National Guard, "because the National Guard is not an effective form of federal assistance."

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During an interview that aired on ABC News This Week on Sunday, Aug. 31, Gov. Moore echoed that same sentiment. He said he wants sustained federal resources, and argued why he believes Baltimore has seen an historic reduction in homicides and non-fatal shootings.

Moore's opposition to the National Guard's use is evident. Despite the data, he said, there's not a direct connection between the boots on the ground and the drop in crime that's unfolding in Washington, D.C.

Since the Guard arrived in the nation's capital, DC has seen a 45% reduction in violent crime and carjackings have declined 87%. Mayor Muriel Bowser even praised the surge in federal law enforcement in a recent news conference.

"We know that when carjackings go down, when the use of guns goes down, when homicide or robbery go down, neighborhoods feel safer and are safer," she said. "So, this surge has been important to us for that reason."

But, when asked directly about the statistics in DC, Moore again argued the Guard is not the right tool for Baltimore to use to curb the violence.

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However, law enforcement experts have argued that the presence of the National Guard has helped deter crimes, and Mayor Bowser said because of the surge in law enforcement from President Trump, the Metropolitan Police Department has been able to make more arrests.

"We greatly appreciate the surge of officers that enhance what MPD has been able to do in this city," she said at a news conference on Aug. 27.

New data released by Attorney General Pam Bondi over the weekend revealed the ongoing effort. From Aug. 7 to Aug. 30, there were 1,452 arrests and 151 illegal guns seized, according to Bondi. More than 80 of those arrests were made Friday night, along with 11 illegal firearms seized.

When asked how he argued with the data from DC, Gov. Moore didn't specifically answer. Instead, he said he would love to have a "serious conversation" with the White House about what's on his wish list for resources in Maryland.

"If we want to talk about, OK, here's capital, here's money. How would you use it and what do you think is the most effective way to use it in the City of Baltimore or in the State of Maryland? I can give you a full list of things that I would love to be able to work with them on," he said.

You know what - they can do whatever they want in Washington, DC but in Maryland, in our state, I believe that we can have a real core strategy to work together to be able to utilize federal supports to kind of continue driving the kind of results, the encouraging results that we're seeing but that's not what we're hearing from the White House, right, Gov. Moore said.

But Republican Del. Kathy Szeliga argued the National Guard in DC has proven to be of assistance to the crime reduction effort and said Gov. Moore's ongoing public feud could ultimately hurt Marylanders.

"So, defying common sense and trying to deny the very positive impact the National Guard has had on Washington, D.C. crime, it is a fallacy," Del. Szeliga said. "If you have more law enforcement or National Guard members assisting law enforcement on the ground, crime goes down because they'll be catching criminals."

I hope Gov. Moore stops this back and forth with President Trump. It's not good for our state, she continued.

On social media, President Trump alluded to the possibility of pulling funding for the Key Bridge rebuild effort. In December 2024, Congress approved a 100% cost-share of the effort, which right now is estimated to cost between $1.7 billion and $1.9 billion, according to state estimates.

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Congressman Andy Harris, Maryland's lone Republican member in Congress, said Gov. Moore "hasn't exactly been kind" to President Trump and said, "there's a consequence to that."

"The President controls the executive branch. I wouldn't be surprised if the President rethinks the funding for the Key Bridge," Harris said. "Obviously, this governor has enough money to spend millions of dollars on suing the Trump Administration. Maybe they have enough money to fund the Key Bridge as well."

Despite Harris' comments, Senate President Bill Ferguson disagreed. When the Dali cargo ship caused the Key Bridge to collapse, it was a national emergency due to the Port of Baltimore's connection to national shipping routes, Ferguson said, and therefore, Congress should play a role in the rebuild.

"This isn't just a regional bridge. This is a national asset," Ferguson said. "In every other case, the federal government has stepped up and recognized in emergency situations, we fully will cover the cost. I believe that should continue to be the case here."

If Maryland is forced to pay for the rebuild, Ferguson said the money will have to come from somewhere else in the state budget.

"So, they come from the reconstruction and rebuild of Route 50 on the Eastern Shore. They come from I-81 in Western Maryland. They come from improvements to 32 in central Maryland," he said. "We just hope is that it would be normal practice as the federal government has done time and time again in emergency situations."

Meanwhile, Gov. Moore said because Congress approved the funding originally, it would be up to Congress to vote to pull the funding, and that, he said, is something elected leaders would have to answer to the American people for on the economic impact.

"I deeply disagree with Congressman Harris and I think it completely misses the larger point," Gov. Moore said.

The Port of Baltimore is the largest roll-on-roll off provider in the country, Gov. Moore said, and is one of the largest providers "of everything from spices and sugars."

"It's the place where American goods go to market and where the market goods come to the United States of America," he said. "If we are going to watch Congress be so partisan and petty that they are going to make an adjustment on something that was the greatest maritime tragedy in our nation's history, then Congress would have a whole lot to answer for to the American people when they see the kind of economic damage that would do."

Gov. Moore invited President Trump to visit Baltimore to see what has been happening on the ground and the efforts to reduce violent crime. However, that invitation was met with more criticism from President Trump, who called Baltimore a "hellhole."

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"I want to walk with you too someday, but first you gotta clean up your crime," President Trump said.

The argument between the two leaders isn't personal, Gov. Moore claimed, but he did call President Trump "President Bone Spurs." When that was pointed out, Gov. Moore glossed over it and kept talking about how he will continue to fight for the people of Maryland.

"I'm going to fight for my people. When I'm hearing attacks on my state and on our state's largest city, things like hellscape and hellhole and death scape, I feel like our state is under attack from the federal government," he said. "But if the President of the United States wants to have a serious conversation - not to fight us, but to fight for us - I would be very excited to have that conversation with him."