Trump praises governors as 'great people and leaders' in White House Evening Dinner address
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump highlighted the leadership and contributions of the nation’s governors during his address at the National Governors Association Evening Dinner on Sunday, February 22, speaking alongside first lady Melania Trump.
The event, traditionally a bipartisan gathering, is expected to bring together state leaders for an evening of discussion and socializing. However, this year’s dinner took place amid controversy particularly over the participation of certain Democratic governors.
Donald Trump praises Governors at Evening Dinner
During his remarks, Trump emphasized the leadership and popularity of the governors in attendance. “You’re governors, you’re great people, you’re great leaders. You’re just about all very popular. I know every one of you,” he said.
He added, “You’ve all had it pretty easy to become a governor. That’s because you’ve done really good work.”
Highlighting the historical significance of the role, Trump stated, “From Thomas Jefferson to today, America’s governors have been among the smartest, most creative, most talented Americans our country has ever produced.”
He noted that many individuals leave other positions because they want to become governor, saying, “So many people, they leave other positions. I will not say dissented, but we can say that. And they want to be governor.”
Trump pointed out that 17 governors have gone on to become president of the United States. “I’m not surprised by that at all,” he said.
He also referenced the work governors do across the country, including “reforming education, defending public safety, bringing back manufacturing from overseas or responding to natural disasters like I think they could call that a natural disaster.”
Calling the governors “essential partners,” Trump said he views them as key to the mission “to make America great again and just in time for America 250.”
Donald Trump's snub heightens tensions over Governors’ Dinner
The dinner came after tensions involving the National Governors Association, pulled out of the annual meeting after Trump declined to invite two Democratic governors.
Ahead of the gathering, Trump criticized the bipartisan group’s leadership, Republican Gov Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma and Democratic Gov. Wes Moore of Maryland. He refused to invite Moore, along with Colorado Gov. Jared Polis.
In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote, “The RINO Governor of the Great State of Oklahoma, in which I won all 77 Counties, three times (The only person to do so!), incorrectly stated my position on the very exclusive Governors Annual Dinner and Meeting at the White House"
He continued, "The White House intends to limit invitations to the annual business meeting, scheduled for February 20th, to Republican Governors only. That is false!"
Trump explained that invitations went to all governors “other than two, who I feel are not worthy of being there.” He claimed Polis “unfairly incarcerated in solitary confinement a 73-year-old cancer-stricken woman for attempting to fight Democrat Voter Fraud.”
He called Moore “foul-mouthed” and accused him of fraudulently stating he received military medals, doing a terrible job of rebuilding the Francis Scott Key Bridge, and allowing Baltimore to continue to be a “crime disaster.”
Moore responded in a statement on X, saying that being excluded carried added weight because he is the nation’s only Black governor. “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 wrote.
