Democratic governors excluded from typically bipartisan White House gathering

President Trump is excluding Democratic governors from typically bipartisan events held astatine the White House during the yearly gathering of authorities leaders successful Washington, D.C. 

No Democratic governors were invited to a ceremonial concern gathering that was to instrumentality spot Feb. 20 betwixt governors, the president and White House officials portion they are successful municipality for the National Governors Association conference. A root acquainted with the White House's readying said this was deliberate — President Trump does not privation them there. 

And astatine slightest 2 Democratic governors, Wes Moore of Maryland and Jared Polis of Colorado, were specifically excluded from a meal astatine the White House with governors and their spouses. The White House has not said wherefore Moore and Polis were excluded, but it prompted a bulk of the Democratic governors to boycott the meal altogether.

NGA CEO Brandon Tatum said Friday the enactment would nary longer clasp the ceremonial gathering betwixt governors and the White House due to the fact that Democratic governors were not included. It's not wide if Republican governors volition inactive person their ain abstracted gathering astatine the White House portion they're successful town. 

"While disagreement is simply a earthy portion of our system, truthful excessively is collaboration and span building. Traditionally, the White House has played a relation successful fostering these moments during NGA's yearly meeting. This year, they volition not," Tatum said successful a Feb. 6 statement. 

In response, White House property caput Karoline Leavitt said invitations are up to the president.

"The president has the discretion to invitation whomever helium wants to the White House, and helium welcomes each those who received an invitation to come, and if they don't privation to, that's their loss," she told reporters astatine a briefing Tuesday. 

Leavitt noted Moore was invited past year, but "he did not amusement up to the dinner."

Nearly each the Democratic governors said successful a associated connection Tuesday that they would not beryllium attending the meal — oregon immoderate White House event. "Democratic governors person a agelong grounds of moving crossed the aisle to present results and we stay committed to this effort. But it's disappointing this medication doesn't look to stock the aforesaid goal," they wrote successful a connection shared by the Democratic Governors Association. 

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson and Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger were not listed successful the associated DGA statement, and it is unclear if they volition inactive be the planned White House dinner. 

Mr. Trump and Democratic Gov. Janet Mills of Maine clashed implicit the contented of trans women successful sports during the past ceremonial governors' gathering connected Feb. 21, 2025. Democratic governors were invited to the bipartisan meal astatine the White House that followed the adjacent day.

"My fig is close successful your wallets and close connected your person, due to the fact that I americium unfastened to anybody, Republican oregon Democrat. If we tin help, you're going to telephone maine up, and we'll instrumentality attraction of it," Trump said successful his remarks astatine the 2025 dinner. 

The National Governors Association is holding its league this twelvemonth successful Washington, D.C., from Feb. 19 to Feb. 21. 

Fin Daniel Gómez contributed to this report.