President Donald Trump stated Wednesday that he has invited governors from both major parties – with the exceptions of Maryland’s Wes Moore and Colorado’s Jared Polis – to a traditionally bipartisan gathering at the White House next week.
White House Meeting in Flux
An annual meeting between the president and the nation’s governors, scheduled for February 20, has become a point of contention after National Governors Association officials initially indicated Trump planned to include only Republican governors. But, Trump asserted via a post on Truth Social that invitations were sent to all governors except Moore and Polis.
Trump as well criticized Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, chair of the NGA, referring to him as a “RINO,” or Republican in name only. On Thursday, Trump further criticized Stitt, calling him a “wiseguy” and questioning his ability to write a press release.
The situation remains fluid, with conflicting accounts emerging from the White House and the NGA. Shortly before Trump’s Wednesday post, NGA leaders reported that Stitt had secured an agreement with the White House for all governors to attend the February 20 meeting.
Stitt subsequently emailed fellow NGA governors, stating that Trump was “inviting all governors” to the NGA Business Breakfast. A source familiar with the situation indicated that Moore had also received an invitation to the business meeting as of Wednesday afternoon, though whether he would attend remains unknown.
A spokesperson for Governor Polis stated that he remains focused on the needs of Colorado and will continue to collaborate with governors from both parties, regardless of invitation status.
The status of a traditionally bipartisan dinner alongside the business meeting is also uncertain. Last Thursday, NGA officials were informed that only Republican governors would be invited to the February 20 business meeting, prompting the organization to remove the meeting from its formal agenda. Democratic governors had previously announced they would boycott the events if all governors were not invited.
Frequently Asked Questions
What initially caused the conflict regarding the White House meeting?
The conflict arose after NGA officials were informed by the White House that only Republican governors would be invited to the annual business meeting scheduled for February 20.
What did President Trump say regarding the invitations?
President Trump stated that invitations to the meeting were sent to all governors except Democratic Governors Wes Moore of Maryland and Jared Polis of Colorado.
What is Kevin Stitt’s role in this situation?
Kevin Stitt is the Republican Governor of Oklahoma and the chair of the National Governors Association. President Trump criticized Stitt, calling him a “RINO” and a “wiseguy.” Stitt initially reported an agreement for all governors to attend, but later stated Trump was inviting all governors to a business breakfast.
As the situation continues to evolve, will the traditionally bipartisan meeting between the nation’s governors and the president proceed as planned, and if so, with what level of participation from both parties?
