Marylands Democratic governor Wes Moore is offering rare praise for a signature initiative of President Donald Trump, hailing the new child investment Trump Accounts as a smart policy even as he condemns other pillars of the presidents agenda.
In a recent appearance on "The Clay Cane Show" podcast, Moore credited the Trump administration for finally delivering on an idea long championed by progressives. According to Fox News, Moore likened the new accounts to so-called baby bonds, a mechanism designed to give every child a financial asset that grows over time and can be used to build wealth in adulthood.
"I will give this administration credit for this, is that weve had Democratic presidents and Republican presidents who have not been able to get this done, and it actually got done," Moore said.
"So I actually, this is actually a smart policy."
Moore, a Democrat often touted as a rising star in his party, acknowledged that the structure of the Trump Accounts closely mirrors proposals the left has pushed for years. "Im so with you because, honestly, its actually a good idea," Moore said. "And you know what it is, frankly? Its essentially the same thing that weve been advocating for for a decade, which is like baby bonds."
He argued that the accounts could serve as a powerful tool to combat entrenched inequality by giving children a stake in the economy from birth. "One of the fastest ways that you can address both child poverty and the racial wealth gap is actually baby bonds, by giving children a chance to be able to have something that can grow and grow in maturity, that can then give them an opportunity to have a measure of economic mobility and sustainable economic mobility," Moore said.
At the same time, Moore was careful to draw a sharp line between his support for the savings accounts and his opposition to other elements of Trumps broader legislative package. The governor stressed that his praise did not extend to the rest of the "Big Beautiful Bill" H.R. 1 the sweeping measure Republicans passed to advance much of Trumps economic and tax agenda.
"I still have a lot of other issues with a lot of things that were in H.R. 1, like the fact that we gave tax cuts to billionaires, the fact that we gave tax breaks for people who own private planes," Moore said.
He maintained that while the Trump Accounts are "good things for kids," other provisions in the law undercut efforts to narrow the racial wealth gap.
"Even though these savings accounts are good things for kids, if you look at the other policies that came in under H.R. 1, we have moved the ball significantly backwards in an attempt to be able to address the racial wealth gap," Moore said. His comments reflect a familiar Democratic critique of Republican tax policy, even as he concedes that Trumps child investment initiative aligns with long?standing progressive goals.
When host Clay Cane suggested that baby bond?style proposals might sound like socialism to some listeners, Moore pushed back and framed the idea as a way to strengthen, not replace, free?market capitalism. "Its just saying how can you have a capitalistic system that works for everybody," Moore said. "I believe that capitalism has been a remarkable engine, and I believe that if the goal that I have, I want to create pathways to work, wages, wealth ... I believe that capitalism is the best vehicle to help us to be able to do that, but not when its corrupted."
Moore emphasized that the Trump Accounts would allow children to share in the gains of the stock market, a core feature conservatives have long argued is key to broadening prosperity. "The savings account is a way for young people, for children, for babies, to be able to benefit from the rise in the stock market," he said.
The governor also signaled a pragmatic approach to working with the Trump administration, saying he would support policies that benefit Marylanders while resisting those he believes are harmful.
"I will work with anyone, but I will bow to no one," he declared, underscoring his intention to maintain independence even when he finds common ground with a Republican White House.
Federal agencies have begun outlining the contours of the program, which effectively gives families a new, market?based tool to build intergenerational wealth. The IRS said Trump Accounts are for children under 18 with valid Social Security numbers and include a $1,000 pilot contribution for U.S. citizen children born between Jan. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2028.
The White House has described the initiative as a long?term investment in American children that harnesses private capital and market growth rather than expanding direct government control.
The White House said contributions to Trump Accounts began July 4, 2026, and that families and others can contribute up to $5,000 annually.
Officials added that the accounts will be invested in broad stock-market index funds and generally cannot be tapped before the child turns 18, reinforcing the programs focus on long-term asset building rather than short-term consumption. The White House has said the accounts will be invested in broad stock-market index funds and generally cannot be withdrawn before the child turns 18.
For conservatives, the spectacle of a Democratic governor applauding a Trump initiative underscores how market-oriented, ownership-driven policies can bridge partisan divides when they expand opportunity without growing the welfare state. While Moore continues to rail against tax relief for high earners and corporate interests, his endorsement of Trumps child investment accounts highlights a key point of agreement: that capitalism, when more Americans have a stake in it from the start, remains the most effective engine for mobility and prosperity.
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