WASHINGTON, D.C.: After the White House excluded Democratic governors from a meeting with President Donald Trump later this month, National Governors Association Chairman Kevin Stitt told members this week that they were canceling a meeting with him, said a source familiar with the matter.
Governors from across the U.S. gather every year in Washington for the NGA meeting. It is tradition for the president to host the governors at the White House for a session with Cabinet secretaries and other officials, and for a black-tie dinner for the governors and their spouses.
"To disinvite individual governors to the White House sessions undermines an important opportunity for federal-state collaboration," Brandon Tatum, CEO of the bipartisan association representing U.S. governors, said in a statement.
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, a Republican who is the chairman of the NGA, said in a letter to fellow governors that the NGA staff was informed that the White House intended to limit invitations to the annual business meeting, scheduled for February 20, to Republican governors only.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president could invite anyone he wanted to dinner and events at the White House.
"He welcomes all those who received an invitation to come, and if they don't want to, that's their loss," Leavitt said at a press briefing.
The New York Times reported last week that Trump still intended to host a separate dinner at the White House for governors from both parties and their spouses. However, the newspaper said Trump personally stopped invitations from being sent to Maryland Governor Wes Moore and Democratic Colorado Governor Jared Polis, who is also a member of the association.
David Turner, a spokesperson for Moore, said the National Governors Association has a long history of bipartisan meetings in which leaders share ideas and best practices, regardless of political party. He added that this is what Americans expect and deserve, but the White House does not seem to agree.
A spokesperson for Polis did not immediately respond when asked for comment.
