President Donald Trump blasted Gov. Wes Moore after a sewage leak in Maryland threatened Washington’s water supply.
Trump ordered a federal take over of a sewage crisis that has seen an estimated 240 million gallons of waste dumped into the Potomac River, which flows into Washington D.C.
Trump declared the crisis a “massive Ecological Disaster” and blamed what he called “Gross Mismanagement of Local Democrat Leaders,” singling out Maryland Gov. Wes Moore.
“There is a massive Ecological Disaster unfolding in the Potomac River as a result of the Gross Mismanagement of Local Democrat Leaders, particularly, Governor Wes Moore, of Maryland,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
( @realDonaldTrump – Truth Social Post )
( Donald J. Trump – Feb 16 2026, 3:02 PM ET )There is a massive Ecological Disaster unfolding in the Potomac River as a result of the Gross Mismanagement of Local Democrat Leaders, particularly, Governor Wes Moore, of Maryland. A sewer… pic.twitter.com/uRV6BmalM0
— Fan Donald J. Trump 🇺🇸 TRUTH POSTS (@TruthTrumpPosts) February 16, 2026
“A sewer line breach in Maryland has caused millions of gallons of raw sewage to be dumped into the Potomac River, a result of incompetent Local and State Management of Essential Waste Management Systems.”
Trump argued that local officials failed to contain the fallout and insisted Washington could not wait for a formal request for help.
“It is clear Local Authorities cannot adequately handle this calamity,” he stated before directing federal agencies to step in.
“Therefore, I am directing Federal Authorities to immediately provide all necessary Management, Direction, and Coordination to protect the Potomac, the Water Supply in the Capital Region, and our treasured National Resources in our Nation’s Capital City.”
The rupture began Jan. 19 after a 72-inch section of the Potomac Interceptor collapsed in Cabin John.
DC Water reported that about 200 million gallons of wastewater initially entered the river.
A Feb. 6 press release later updated that estimate to roughly 243 million gallons.
“Based on flow monitoring data collected before and after interim bypass pumping was activated, DC Water estimates that approximately 243 million gallons of wastewater has overflowed from the collapse site,” the agency stated.
“The vast majority of this volume, approximately 194 million gallons, occurred within the first five days, prior to the overflows being significantly reduced through bypass pumping operations.”
Officials have said the region’s drinking water remains safe, but the Virginia Department of Health urged residents to avoid recreational use of the Potomac, including swimming, tubing and kayaking.
Trump acknowledged that state and local leaders had not requested emergency federal intervention.
He argued he could not allow what he described as “incompetent Local ‘Leadership’” to turn the river “into a Disaster Zone.”
The president tied the response to broader concerns about federal resources, noting that the Department of Homeland Security faces a partial shutdown.
“FEMA, which is currently being defunded by the Democrats, will play a key role in coordinating the response,” Trump said, as some agency workers face missed paychecks.
Moore’s spokesperson Ammar Moussa claimed that Trump “has his facts wrong — again.”
“Since the last century, the federal government has been responsible for the Potomac Interceptor, which is the origin of the sewage leak,” Moussa added.
“For the last four weeks, the Trump Administration has failed to act, shirking its responsibility and putting people’s health at risk.”
“Notably, the president’s own EPA explicitly refused to participate in the major legislative hearing about the cleanup last Friday,” the spokesperson continued.
“Apparently the Trump administration hadn’t gotten the memo that they’re actually supposed to be in charge here.”
During his post, the president also referenced California’s Palisades fire and accused Democratic officials of waging what he called a “war on merit” with “real consequences.”
Trump’s comments came hours after he criticized California Gov. Gavin Newsom for signing a climate agreement with the United Kingdom while attending the Munich Security Conference.
“The U.K.’s got enough trouble without getting involved with Gavin Newscum,” Trump commented to Politico, calling the arrangement “inappropriate.”
“Gavin is a loser. Everything he’s touched turns to garbage. His state has gone to hell, and his environmental work is a disaster,” he added.
Newsom stepped onto the global stage in Munich and described California as a “stable and reliable” partner compared with the federal government.
He told international leaders that the current administration is “temporary” and will be “gone in three years.”
Newsom has appeared at the World Economic Forum in Davos and the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Brazil.
His agreement with the United Kingdom secured a $1 billion investment from Octopus Energy.
The funds will support two California-based carbon removal companies focused on grassland restoration and reforestation projects designed to convert degraded land into carbon-absorbing assets.
Newsom’s office responded to Trump’s criticism by accusing him of favoring fossil fuels.
“Donald Trump is on his knees for coal and Big Oil, selling out America’s future to China. Governor Newsom will continue to lead in his absence,” a spokesperson said to Fox News.
“Foreign leaders are rejecting Trump and choosing California’s vision for the future.”
Trump also targeted Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez after watching her field foreign policy questions in Munich.
“I watched AOC answering questions in Munich. This was not a good look for the United States,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.
“I watched Gavin Newscum answering questions for Munich, and this was a bad look for our country. … These two people are incompetent, and at least Hillary’s competent,” he continued.
President Trump: “I watched AOC answering questions in Munich. This was not a good look for the United States. I watched Gavin Newscum answering questions in Munich. This was a bad look for our country… These two people are incompetent.”
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) February 17, 2026
“She’s just Trump deranged. She was so deranged. She is an angry woman. But I watched the other two speaking and answering basic questions,” he added.
Trump criticized Ocasio-Cortez for struggling with questions about Taiwan and misstating Venezuela’s geography.
“I never heard her speak very much, and they started answering questions. She had no idea what was happening,” he remarked.
“She had no idea how to answer, you know, very important questions concerning the world, but she can’t answer questions concerning New York City, either, because New York City has got some problems.”
Like Newsom, Ocasio-Cortez has been floated as a potential 2028 presidential contender.
