Two Democrats Excluded from Trump's White House Dinner

President Trump is excluding at least two Democratic governors from a White House dinner with the nation's governors this month. Breaking from the historically bipartisan nature of the annual gathering.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis—both regular Democratic targets of Trump—have been disinvited from the White House dinner with the National Governors Association.

Trump is also only inviting Republican governors to a winter meeting between the White House and the NGA that has traditionally featured all governors from both parties.

The meeting and dinner are set for when the NGA meets in Washington, D.C., from February 19 to 21.

"The bipartisan White House governors meeting is an important tradition, and we are disappointed in the administration's decision to make it a partisan occasion this year," Brandon Tatum, CEO of the National Governors Association, said. "To disinvite individual governors to the White House sessions undermines an important opportunity for federal-state collaboration."

It wasn't immediately clear why only Moore and Polis got snubbed and not other Democrats Trump has criticized.

"Many Democrats were invited to dinner at the White House, and others were not," a White House official said. "These are White House events and the President reserves the right to invite whomever he wants."

Why Moore Got Excluded

Trump clashed with Moore last year over the president's threats to send the National Guard into Baltimore. Trump even suggested at one point he could withhold funds to help rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

Moore, who serves as vice president of the National Governors Association, posted on X about the exclusion. "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 being excluded is "especially confounding" given that he was part of a bipartisan group of governors who met with Trump three weeks ago to discuss reforms to lower energy costs.

"I'm ready to work with the administration anywhere we can deliver results. Yet, I promised the people of my state I will work with anybody but will bow down to nobody," Moore said. "And I guess the President doesn't like that."

Why Polis Got Excluded

Trump has attacked Polis repeatedly and used the federal government to punish Colorado over the state's imprisonment of Tina Peters. The former county clerk in Colorado was convicted of multiple crimes for letting someone access data from a secure voting system in an effort to prove unsubstantiated 2020 election conspiracies.

In recent weeks, Trump blocked completion of a major water pipeline in Colorado, pulled grant dollars from the state, and moved to dismantle a major climate research center.

Polis wasn't given a reason for why he got excluded from the dinner. Eric Maruyama, the governor's deputy press secretary, said, "This is a disappointing decision for a traditionally bipartisan event between Governors and whoever occupies the White House."

This Isn't New

During Trump's meeting with governors in 2025, he had a memorable confrontation with Maine Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat, over his threat to withhold federal funds from states that allow transgender athletes to play in girls' and women's sports.

A heated exchange erupted as Trump addressed the group. It ended with Mills telling Trump, "We'll see you in court."

In A Nutshell

Trump is turning a traditionally bipartisan White House event into a partisan one. Two Democratic governors got disinvited from the dinner. Only Republicans get invited to the winter meeting. The National Governors Association called it disappointing. Moore pointed out he's the only Black governor being excluded. Polis got no explanation. And the White House says Trump can invite whoever he wants to his own events.

The National Governors Association meeting happens February 19-21. Most Democratic governors will still be there. They just won't be at the White House dinner or winter meeting with the president.

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