In a surprising move, President Donald Trump has decided to exclude Democratic governors from an upcoming meeting at the White House, marking a departure from a long-standing bipartisan tradition that has typically welcomed governors from both major political parties. This annual gathering, organized as part of the National Governors Association (NGA) winter session, will only feature Republican governors, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the organization to ABC News.
Brandon Tatum, the acting Executive Director and CEO of the NGA, expressed disappointment regarding this decision, highlighting the importance of a collaborative federal-state relationship. "The bipartisan White House governors meeting is a crucial tradition, and we are disheartened by the administration's choice to turn it into a partisan event this year. Excluding certain governors undermines a vital opportunity for cooperation between state and federal officials," Tatum stated in his remarks to ABC News.
While Trump intends to host a separate bipartisan dinner for governors and their spouses during the NGA activities, two notable Democrats—Maryland Governor Wes Moore and Colorado Governor Jared Polis—were not extended invitations to this dinner. The reasons behind Trump's exclusion of these governors remain unclear, particularly since Moore holds the position of vice chair within the NGA.
Moore's spokesperson, Ally Sullivan, criticized the decision, calling it disappointing for what has traditionally been a bipartisan event among governors and the sitting president. Furthermore, a source close to Moore indicated that he was given no explanation for his exclusion.
Interestingly, Trump has pressured Polis recently to secure the release of Tina Peters, who is currently imprisoned following her conviction for attempting to tamper with voting systems based on false allegations about the 2020 election. It’s important to note that while Trump has the power to grant pardons at the federal level, this authority does not extend to state crimes.
Moore also voiced his frustration over the lack of invite and suggested that racial factors could have played a role in the decision, saying, "My peers, both Democrats and Republicans, chose me to serve as the Vice Chair of the NGA, which makes it difficult not to view this decision as a clear sign of disrespect towards the spirit of bipartisan federal-state collaboration. As the only Black governor in the nation, I cannot overlook the additional weight of being singled out from this tradition, regardless of whether that was the intent."
The White House has yet to respond to Moore's comments. However, Moore informed CNN that he has received assurances from the NGA that the dinner will not be recognized as an official NGA event.
In defense of the decision to exclude Democratic governors from the White House gathering, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated, "These are events organized by the White House, and the President has the discretion to invite whoever he chooses. That said, we have been coordinating meetings involving the President, cabinet members, and Democratic governors for over a week now. Democrats were invited to the dinner at the White House, so this shouldn't be considered a significant issue."
Kentucky’s Democratic Governor Andy Beshear openly criticized Trump’s decision during an appearance on ABC's "The View," denouncing the exclusion of Moore and Polis from the bipartisan dinner and declaring that he would not attend. "No, I won’t be going. Wes is my friend, but even if he weren’t, this would still be inappropriate. The fact remains that no Democratic governor is included in the business aspect of this meeting."
This situation raises pertinent questions about the nature of political collaboration and inclusivity—how does the exclusion of certain voices impact governance? Which approach truly embodies the spirit of democracy? We invite you to share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below.
