President Trump stated that governors from both political parties have been invited to upcoming White House events, with the exception of two Democratic governors. The formal meeting and dinner are set to take place during the annual National Governors Association (NGA) conference, where nearly all governors will participate except Maryland’s Wes Moore and Colorado’s Jared Polis.
Initially, the White House planned to exclude Democratic governors entirely from the formal business meeting scheduled for February 20. This led the NGA and other officials to express concern, noting the event has historically maintained a bipartisan approach. Moore and Polis received separate notification that they were not invited to the White House dinner, a move that sparked political backlash.
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, a Republican and chair of the NGA, intervened in discussions regarding the invitations. He communicated to all governors that the formal meeting on February 20 would include representatives from all 55 states and territories. Stitt emphasized the importance of bipartisan engagement, describing the event as “a National Governors Association’s event” and expressed the president’s intent to hear from all governors.
Despite this outreach, President Trump publicly declared that he still excludes Moore and Polis from the events. In a post on Truth Social, Trump argued these two Democratic governors “are not worthy of being there,” while highlighting invitations extended to other political adversaries such as Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and California Governor Gavin Newsom.
Details remain unclear regarding whether Polis has received an official invitation to the business meeting, unlike Moore who was confirmed to have been invited. Polis’s office stated the governor will continue collaborating with other officials regardless of attendance invitations. The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the invitation status.
The NGA revealed it was told by the White House that only Republican governors would be welcome at the business meeting. This unilateral decision led the NGA to withdraw official facilitation of the meeting and remove it from their schedule. Stitt defended Moore’s leadership role within the NGA and reiterated the inclusive invitation message in his letter to governors.
The exclusion sparked a unified response among Democratic governors. Nearly all Democratic governors issued a joint statement vowing to boycott all White House events in solidarity with Moore and Polis. This collective action underscores the tension in federal-state relations under the current administration.
President Trump cited specific grievances as reasons for excluding the two governors. He criticized Polis over his refusal to grant clemency to Tina Peters, a former Colorado election clerk serving a nine-year sentence related to unauthorized access of voting machines. Trump has publicly pressed Polis to intervene in her case. Regarding Moore, Trump accused him of dishonesty concerning military medals, although Moore’s record includes receiving a Bronze Star for service in Afghanistan.
President Trump also criticized Governor Stitt, labeling him a “RINO” (Republican in Name Only) due to Stitt’s support for former Trump primary opponent Ron DeSantis. This intra-party disagreement reflects broader fractures within Republican ranks heading into the 2024 election cycle.
Moore responded to his exclusion by calling it “another example of blatant disrespect and a snub to the spirit of bipartisan federal-state partnership.” Meanwhile, Polis’s office described the decision as a “disappointing decision for a traditionally bipartisan event between Governors and whomever occupies the White House.”
Historically, White House meetings and dinners during the NGA conference have included bipartisan participation. Last year’s event drew attention for a heated exchange between Trump and Maine Governor Janet Mills over transgender women in sports, illustrating longstanding policy and cultural conflicts.
The upcoming event will test the commitment of the federal administration to bipartisan collaboration at the state level. Invitations extended to governors across the political spectrum, with specified exceptions, set a contentious tone for this year’s interactions. Governors and their offices are navigating this evolving dynamic as they plan their participation in the White House-hosted events.
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