A planned White House dinner with U.S. Governors has become the focus of a growing political dispute, as a coalition of Democratic governors announced they will boycott the event after two of their colleagues were disinvited by President Donald Trump. The move underscores a deepening partisan rift and raises questions about the administration’s approach to federal-state relations.
The controversy centers on the exclusion of Maryland Governor Wes Moore and Colorado Governor Jared Polis from the traditionally bipartisan annual gathering of the National Governors Association (NGA), scheduled to take place in Washington D.C. From to . Trump is also reportedly hosting a separate meeting at the White House that will include only Republican governors, a departure from past practice.
In a joint statement released on , 18 Democratic governors condemned Trump’s decision, characterizing it as the latest example of an administration prioritizing division over collaboration. “Democratic governors have a long record of working across the aisle to deliver results and we remain committed to this effort,” the statement read. “But it’s disappointing this administration doesn’t seem to share the same goal. At every turn, President Trump is creating chaos and division, and We see the American people who are hurting as a result.”
The governors affirmed that if reports of the selective invitations are accurate, they would not attend the White House dinner. “Democratic governors remain united and will never stop fighting to protect and make life better for people in our states,” they added.
The boycott is being led by Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, chair of the Democratic Governors Association, and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, the association’s vice chair. Other governors joining the protest include Gavin Newsom of California, J.B. Pritzker of Illinois, and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, signaling a broad front of opposition within the Democratic party.
The White House defended Trump’s actions, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stating that the President “can invite whomever he wants to dinners and events” at the White House. This response has been met with criticism from Democrats, who view it as dismissive of the long-standing tradition of bipartisan engagement.
Governor Wes Moore, who is also the vice president of the NGA, described Trump’s exclusion as “small-minded” in an interview with The Washington Post. “He’s trying to exclude me from an organization he didn’t make me a part of,” Moore said. “The people of Maryland made me a part of the organization.”
In an attempt to defuse the situation, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, the Republican chair of the NGA, announced that Trump would invite all governors to a breakfast at the White House on as part of the NGA’s business meeting. Stitt communicated to the governors that Trump “was very clear in his communication with me that This represents an event in the National Governors Association, and he looks forward to hosting you and hearing from governors across the country.” He added that Trump had stated this was always his intention and that a misunderstanding regarding the planning had been resolved.
The incident comes at a time of heightened political polarization in the United States, and the governors’ response reflects a growing willingness among Democrats to publicly challenge the Trump administration’s policies and rhetoric. The boycott also highlights the importance of the relationship between the federal government and state leaders, particularly in areas such as funding, infrastructure, and policy implementation.
The decision by Democratic governors to forgo the White House dinner is likely to further strain relations between the administration and state governments, potentially hindering efforts to address critical issues facing the country. The situation also raises questions about the future of bipartisan cooperation in Washington and the extent to which political divisions will continue to dominate the national agenda.
While the White House maintains that many Democrats were invited to other events, the symbolic significance of excluding Moore and Polis from the traditional dinner remains potent. The boycott serves as a clear signal that Democratic governors are unwilling to normalize what they perceive as divisive and exclusionary tactics by the Trump administration.
