Trump Invites All Governors to White House Meeting, Excludes Moore and Polis
All 55 governors were invited to the Feb. 20 NGA business breakfast, though Trump said he excluded Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis from a White House dinner.
Overview
President Donald J. Trump told Gov. Kevin Stitt in a Feb. 11 call that he would invite all governors to the NGA business breakfast at 8:30 a.m. ET on Feb. 20, Stitt wrote.
The White House told the NGA on Feb. 5 it planned to limit invitations to Republican governors, prompting the NGA to remove the Feb. 20 meeting from its program on Feb. 6, the NGA said.
NGA CEO Brandon Tatum said in a Feb. 11 statement the association is 'pleased' the president will welcome governors from all 55 states and territories.
Eighteen Democratic governors announced on Feb. 10 they would boycott White House events in solidarity with excluded members, Democratic officials said.
NGA officials said the fate of a Feb. 21 White House dinner excluding Govs. Wes Moore and Jared Polis remains unresolved and could affect governors' attendance at the Feb. 19-21 NGA conference.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources present this story neutrally, showing competing claims and attributing charged language to speakers rather than endorsing it. They quote Trump’s Truth Social posts, NGA and Stitt statements, Democratic boycott notices and context on Polis/Moore controversies (Tina Peters, Bronze Star). Coverage flags contradictions and provides both sides' responses.
Sources (12)
FAQ
It is unclear why Trump did not invite them to the dinner; no specific reason was provided. For Polis, this follows Trump's pressure to release Tina Peters from prison, but no direct link is confirmed.
The NGA 2026 Winter Meeting is scheduled for February 19-21 in Washington, D.C. All 55 governors are invited to the Feb. 20 NGA business breakfast, but the Feb. 21 White House dinner excluding Moore and Polis remains unresolved.
The NGA removed the Feb. 20 meeting from its program after the White House planned to limit invitations to Republicans, expressing disappointment over the partisan approach.
Eighteen Democratic governors announced on Feb. 10 they would boycott White House events in solidarity with excluded members.
NGA CEO Brandon Tatum stated on Feb. 11 that the association is 'pleased' the president will welcome governors from all 55 states and territories to the White House.
History
3 sources
4 sources