President Donald Trump’s escalation of partisan rhetoric toward Democratic governors has cast a political shadow over this weekend’s National Governors Association (NGA) winter meeting in Washington, attracting criticism and fracturing traditionally bipartisan engagement.
The controversy began after Trump initially excluded Democratic governors Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis from a White House dinner tied to the NGA meeting, prompting outcry from governors across the country and leading many Democratic leaders to threaten a boycott of the event.
Trump publicly defended his decision, saying he felt those two governors were “not worthy” of attending based on his criticisms of their leadership on issues like infrastructure and governance.
After backlash and pressure from NGA Chairman Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, the White House later clarified that all governors would be invited to a White House meeting on Feb. 20, but Trump maintained the exclusion of Moore and Polis from the black-tie dinner, keeping tensions high.
Democratic governors remain divided in their response: some have said they will attend the bipartisan sessions but skip the White House dinner in protest, while others, including prominent voices, are using the weekend to highlight policy differences and Trump’s leadership style ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Moore, who serves as vice chair of the NGA, has publicly rejected Trump’s characterization of his leadership and said his worth is determined by Maryland residents rather than presidential opinion.
The annual NGA winter meeting offers governors a chance to discuss policy and intergovernmental cooperation, but this year’s gathering has become an early flashpoint in national politics as the 2026 election season accelerates.
