Trump Invites Bipartisan Governors to White House, Excludes Two Democrats
During a recent announcement, President Trump stated that the majority of U.S. governors were invited to a formal meeting at the White House. However, the invitation list notably excluded two Democratic governors from Maryland and Colorado.
Background of the Invitation Controversy
The White House initially planned to restrict invitations for the annual National Governors Association (NGA) conference scheduled for February 20, 2023. This decision reportedly limited attendance to Republican governors only. Subsequently, both Wes Moore of Maryland and Jared Polis of Colorado learned they were excluded from a separate dinner engagement hosted by the president on February 21, 2023.
Involvement of NGA Leadership
The situation changed following discussions between the White House and Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, the Republican chair of the NGA. After these talks, Trump confirmed that governors from both parties would be welcomed to attend both the meeting and dinner.
On the evening of February 15, invitations were extended to Democratic governors for the business meeting. However, updates regarding the White House dinner had yet to be communicated by the NGA. Stitt informed all governors across 55 states and territories that they were invited to the formal meeting, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity.
Trump’s Remarks and Continued Exclusions
Despite the expanding guest list, President Trump indicated that Governors Moore and Polis would still not be invited. He referred to a “misunderstanding” regarding invitations and categorized these two officials as unworthy of attending. Interestingly, he also noted that he had invited political opponents, including Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and California Governor Gavin Newsom.
The Reaction from Democratic Governors
The reaction from Democratic governors was swift. Nearly all of them released a joint statement expressing their decision to boycott White House events, including the dinner, in solidarity with the excluded governors.
Moore criticized the exclusion as disrespectful, while a spokesperson for Polis described the action as disappointing for what is typically a bipartisan gathering. This tension highlights the growing divides between party lines.
Context of Past Meetings
Notably, past conferences have seen participation from both Democratic and Republican governors, with examples of cooperation. Last year’s event, for instance, involved significant discussions, including a notable exchange between Trump and Maine’s Democratic Governor Janet Mills regarding transgender sports policies.
Conclusion
The ongoing conflict reflects deeper political rifts. With forthcoming meetings, the atmosphere is charged, emphasizing the need for constructive bipartisan dialogue among governors from across the nation.
