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- Democratic governors plan to boycott the White House dinner after two of their colleagues were excluded.
- Maryland Governor Wes Moore and Colorado Governor Jared Polis were not invited to the National Governors Association event.
- White House officials said the president reserves the right to invite anyone he wishes to the dinner.
WASHINGTON – Democratic governors across the country announced they would boycott a meeting at the White House after President Donald Trump signaled he would exclude two of their colleagues from the historic bipartisan annual gathering.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore and Colorado Governor Jared Polis were not invited to a dinner sponsored by the National Governors Association, a bipartisan group of leaders from all 50 states, scheduled to be held in Washington from February 19-21.
In a statement to USA TODAY, more than half a dozen Democrats slammed President Trump’s decision, calling it the latest example of an administration in disarray.
“Democratic governors have a long track record of working across the aisle to get results, and we remain fully committed to this effort,” the group of 18 governors said. “But it is unfortunate that the current administration does not seem to share the same goals. President Trump is creating chaos and division at every turn, and the American people are hurting as a result.”
“If reports are true that not all governors have been invited to these events, which have historically been opportunities for productive and bipartisan cooperation, then there will be no White House dinners this year. Democratic governors remain united and will never stop fighting to protect the people of their states and improve their lives.”
Democratic governors boycotting the event include a number of rumored 2028 presidential candidates, including Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, chairman of the Democratic Governors Association. So do leaders like Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, the group’s vice chair, and California’s Gavin Newsom. JB Pritzker of Illinois and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania.
Some other state leaders who have been at odds with the Trump administration on a variety of issues, including sending the National Guard and immigration agents to their states, also signed the statement, including Minnesota’s Tim Walz.
Others who announced they would not attend the White House dinner include Tony Evers of Wisconsin, Maura Healey of Massachusetts, Kathy Hochul of New York, Laura Kelly of Kansas, Ned Lamont of Kansas, Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico, Dan McKee of Rhode Island, Matt Meyer of Delaware, Janet Mills of Maine, and Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey.
Democratic congressmen Moore and Polis, who were removed by President Trump, are also boycotting.
A White House official told USA TODAY earlier this week that many Democratic members of Congress were invited to the dinner, but “no other members were invited,” adding that the president has the right to “invite whomever he wants.”
Trump clashed with Moore last year over the president’s threat to send the National Guard to Baltimore, and at one point suggested he might withhold funds to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
President Trump has repeatedly attacked Polis and punished Colorado over the state’s incarceration of Tina Peters. A former county clerk in Colorado has been convicted of multiple charges for allowing someone to access secure voting system data for the purpose of proving a baseless 2020 election conspiracy.
In recent weeks, President Trump has blocked completion of a major water pipeline in Colorado, pulled state subsidies and moved to dismantle a major climate research center.
This story will be updated.
