Trump says governors from both parties are invited to White House, except 2 Democrats

President Trump said Wednesday that astir each governors are invited astatine the White House for a ceremonial gathering and meal adjacent week, though the Democratic governors of Maryland and Colorado are inactive being excluded.

The White House was initially going to exclude Democratic governors from a formal, typically bipartisan concern gathering connected Feb. 20 during the yearly National Governors Association (NGA) conference, according to the NGA and a root acquainted with the White House's planning.

And 2 Democratic governors, Wes Moore of Maryland and Jared Polis of Colorado, said they were informed by the NGA past Friday they would not beryllium invited to a abstracted meal astatine the White House connected Feb. 21 with the president, the governors and their spouses. 

But aft talks betwixt the White House and Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican who chairs the NGA, the enactment and the president said Wednesday that governors from some parties are invited to some the gathering and the dinner. Democratic governors began receiving invitations connected Wednesday evening to the concern meeting, though the NGA did not person updates astir the White House dinner. 

Gov. Stitt informed governors of each 55 states and territories connected Wednesday that each are invited to the ceremonial gathering connected Feb. 20. 

"He was precise wide successful his communications with maine that this is simply a National Governors Association's event, and helium looks guardant to hosting you and proceeding from governors crossed the country. President Trump said this was ever his intention, and we person addressed the misunderstanding successful scheduling," Stitt wrote successful a connection to governors obtained by CBS News.

In a Wednesday afternoon Truth Social post aft Stitt's connection was sent, Mr. Trump wrote that Moore and Polis are inactive excluded. He suggested determination was a misunderstanding betwixt him and Stitt.

"The invitations were sent to ALL Governors, different than two, who I consciousness are not worthy of being there," Trump wrote, adding that helium "even invited" 2 of his governmental foes, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and California Gov. Gavin Newsom. "So, arsenic accustomed with him, Stitt got it WRONG! The Invitations were sent retired to each different Governors, Democrat and Republican."

Moore inactive received an invitation connected Wednesday to the ceremonial meeting, according to a root acquainted with the matter. It is unclear if Polis received an invitation to that gathering arsenic well. CBS News has reached retired to the White House. 

The NGA said it was informed by the White House connected Feb. 5 that lone Republican governors would beryllium invited to the ceremonial concern meeting. Because of these exclusions, the NGA said the pursuing time that it would not facilitate that gathering oregon enactment it connected the group's authoritative schedule. Stitt reiterated that successful a missive to governors connected Monday, and defended Moore arsenic "an exceptional vice chair" for the NGA.

After reports of Democratic governors being excluded from the meeting, astir each Democratic politician enactment retired a associated connection Tuesday that indicated they wouldn't be immoderate White House events, including the dinner, retired of solidarity with Moore and Polis. 

In his Wednesday post, Mr. Trump cited a disagreement implicit the imprisonment of erstwhile Colorado region predetermination clerk Tina Peters arsenic the crushed for not inviting Polis. The president has pushed Polis for months to assistance clemency to Peters, who is serving a nine-year sentence connected aggregate authorities charges related to unauthorized entree to voting machines.

And Mr. Trump called Moore "foul mouthed" and claimed helium had embellished receiving subject medals, though Moore has said it was an "honest mistake" connected a White House fellowship exertion successful 2006. He has since received a Bronze Star for his deployment to Afghanistan. 

The president besides criticized Stitt, calling him a "RINO," oregon Republican successful sanction only. Stitt had backed Mr. Trump's erstwhile opponent, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, during the 2024 Republican statesmanlike primaries.

Moore called the determination not to invitation him "another illustration of blatant disrespect and a snub to the tone of bipartisan federal-state partnership" successful a statement earlier this week.

A Polis spokesperson called it a "disappointing determination for a traditionally bipartisan lawsuit betwixt Governors and whomever occupies the White House."

Governors from some parties attended a White House gathering and meal during past year's conference. The gathering drew attraction for a verbal scuffle betwixt Mr. Trump and Maine Democratic Gov. Janet Mills, successful which the president pressed Mills connected the contented of transgender women successful sports, and Mills responded: "We'll spot you successful court."