Trump opens White House meeting to most governors while maintaining ban on two ‘unworthy’ Dems

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump on Wednesday, February 11, announced that governors from both political parties are invited to the White House for a meeting and dinner next week, with the exception of two Democrats.

While most state leaders are now welcome to the annual National Governors Association conference, the governors of Maryland and Colorado remain barred from the events.

White House reverses plan to exclude Democratic governors

Initially, the White House intended to exclude all Democratic governors from the formal business meeting scheduled for February 20 during the conference, according to the NGA and a source familiar with the White House's planning.

This move broke with the longstanding tradition of these events being bipartisan. However, after discussions with Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, the Republican chair of the NGA, the administration shifted its stance.

Notably, Democratic governors began receiving invitations to the business meeting on Wednesday evening.

Trump excludes Wes Moore, Jared Polis from dinner

Despite the broader opening of invitations, Trump clarified on social media that Maryland Governor Wes Moore and Colorado Governor Jared Polis are still not invited to the White House dinner on February 21.

In a Truth Social post, the president wrote, "The invitations were sent to ALL Governors, other than two, who I feel are not worthy of being there."

He noted that he "even invited" prominent critics like Gavin Newsom and JB Pritzker, while criticizing Governor Stitt for suggesting everyone was welcome. Trump wrote, "So, as usual with him, Stitt got it WRONG! The Invitations were sent out to all other Governors, Democrat and Republican."

Trump explains snub of Wes Moore, Jared Polis

The president cited specific grievances as the reason for barring the two men from the event.

Regarding Governor Polis, Trump pointed to a disagreement over the imprisonment of Tina Peters, a former election clerk.

For Governor Moore, Trump used harsh language, brought up past controversies regarding Moore’s military record, and referred to him as "the foul-mouthed Governor of Maryland," accusing him of allowing Baltimore to "continue to be a Crime Disaster. "

Meanwhile, Moore called the exclusion "another example of blatant disrespect and a snub to the spirit of bipartisan federal-state partnership," while a spokesperson for Polis described it as a "disappointing decision for a traditionally bipartisan event between Governors and whomever occupies the White House."