--- ---  # Why These Democratic Governors Are Boycotting the White House Dinner  by [Tiago Ventura](https://time.com/author/tiago-ventura/)  ## Tiago Ventura Updated: Feb 12, 2026 4:08 PM UTCPublished: Feb 11, 2026 4:48 PM UTC  U.S. President Donald Trump during the National Governors Association dinner and reception in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 22, 2025. U.S. President Donald Trump during the National Governors Association dinner and reception in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 22, 2025.Samuel Corum—Getty Images  by [Tiago Ventura](https://time.com/author/tiago-ventura/)  ## Tiago Ventura Updated: Feb 12, 2026 4:08 PM UTCPublished: Feb 11, 2026 4:48 PM UTC Several Democratic Governors intend to boycott a White House dinner timed to the National Governors Association’s annual gathering in response to [President Donald Trump](https://time.com/tag/donald-trump/) excluding Gov. Jared Polis of Colorado and Gov. Wes Moore of Maryland from the event. The Democratic Governors Association (DGA) [framed](https://democraticgovernors.org/updates/joint-statement-from-democratic-governors-on-not-attending-white-house-events/) the move as a show of unity in response to what it described as a break from the event’s long-standing bipartisan tradition. “If the reports are true, that not all governors are invited to these events, which have historically been productive and bipartisan opportunities for collaboration, we will not be attending the White House dinner this year,” the organization said. “Democratic governors remain united and will never stop fighting to protect and make life better for people in our states.” On Wednesday afternoon, Trump defended his decision to exclude Polis and Moore from the dinner, arguing his belief they are “not worthy of being there.” However, Trump hit out at previous reports that stated he had broken with tradition by only inviting Republicans to attend a White House meeting between himself and governors, timed to the annual gathering. In a letter obtained by the [Associated Press](https://apnews.com/article/trump-kevin-stitt-governors-meeting-washington-ee4e696534082638795e1804d71f4966) earlier in the week, NGA chair and Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma stated that the White House intended to limit invitations to the association’s annual business meeting, scheduled for Feb. 20, to Republicans only. As a result, Stitt said the NGA would no longer facilitate the event, “because NGA’s mission is to represent all 55 governors.” An NGA representative also confirmed to TIME on Wednesday the association would no longer host the formal meeting with the President, in light of this. But Trump later lashed out at Stitt, accusing him of relaying “false” information. “The invitations were sent to ALL governors, other than two, who I feel are not worthy of being there,” he said, referring to Stitt as a “RINO,” an acronym for “Republican In Name Only.” On Thursday, Trump [targeted](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116058424559317277) Stitt once again, accusing him of trying to get some “cheap publicity.” Stitt [had a different](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkLWaZPomeU) approach at a press briefing late Wednesday, appearing to frame the matter as more of a misunderstanding in scheduling. “All we said was, the President can invite whoever he wants to the White House, but the NGA is not the right facilitator, if it's not going to be every single governor,” he said. “It’s a non-issue. As the chair of the NGA, I’m excited to be there. And we’re going to have a business meeting at the White House with all of the governors, which is something we’re excited about, as well.” TIME has reached out to Stitt, the DGA, and the White House for further comment.  Gov. Wes Moore speaks with the media on Jan. 27, 2026, in Annapolis, Maryland. Kim Hairston—Getty Images Meanwhile, the two excluded Democratic governors previously addressed Trump’s refusal to extend them invitations. A spokesperson for Polis' office told TIME on Wednesday: “Governor Polis and other governors are focused on delivering results for our states, not playing games.” Moore, who serves as the vice chair of the NGA, called the move a “blatant disrespect and a snub to the spirit of bipartisan federal-state partnership” in a [statement](https://governor.maryland.gov/news/press/pages/Statement-from-Governor-Moore-on-National-Governors-Association-Bipartisan-Dinner.aspx) on Sunday. “As the nation’s only Black governor, I can’t ignore that being singled out for exclusion from this bipartisan tradition carries an added weight—whether that was the intent or not,” he said. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the President’s authority over the guest list when asked about the matter on Tuesday. “It’s a dinner at the White House. It’s the people’s house, it’s also the President’s home, so he can invite whomever he wants to dinners and events here,” she said. “He welcomes all those who received an invitation to come. And if they don’t want to, that’s their loss.” The NGA's annual gathering, long considered to be one of Washington’s most cherished bipartisan traditions, is due to take place on the weekend of Feb. 19–21\. But it comes at a time where tensions are mounting inside the NGA. Over the past year, several Democratic leaders have pressed the organization to take a more vocal stance against certain moves by the Trump Administration. California [Gov. Gavin Newsom](https://time.com/7377635/newsom-trump-racist-trope-social-media-post-criticism/) and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker previously threatened to withdraw from the organization after Trump deployed National Guard troops to their states without the request or approval from local leadership. 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