Democratic Governors Boycott White House Events After Snub

Democratic Governors Announce Boycott of White House Events After Trump Exclusion

Several Democratic governors have announced they will boycott upcoming White House events after President Donald Trump reportedly excluded some Democratic leaders from key meetings. The move has intensified tensions between the administration and governors from traditionally blue states.

According to recent reports, the White House invited only Republican governors to a scheduled meeting with the president during the National Governors Association’s annual conference. This marked a departure from the long-standing tradition of bipartisan participation. Although a separate dinner for governors from both parties was planned, multiple Democratic leaders, including Maryland Governor Wes Moore and Colorado Governor Jared Polis, confirmed they were not invited.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the administration’s decision, stating that while the White House belongs to the public, the president has the authority to decide who receives invitations to official events. She emphasised that attendance at such gatherings remains at the president’s discretion.

The decision to exclude Moore and Polis, particularly Moore in his role as vice chair of the governors’ association, triggered strong reactions from Democratic leaders. In response, 18 sitting Democratic governors declared they would not attend the planned dinner.

In a joint statement released on Tuesday, the governors said that historically, these gatherings have served as valuable bipartisan forums for cooperation and dialogue. They added that if all governors are not included, they see no reason to participate. The statement also reaffirmed their commitment to advocating for the residents of their respective states.

Governor Moore further suggested that racial factors may have influenced the White House’s decision. In a televised interview, he noted that he is currently the only Black governor in the country and described the situation as deeply disappointing. He expressed concern about being excluded from an organisation where he plays a leadership role and believes he belongs.

Meanwhile, the National Governors Association reportedly withdrew support for the meeting after learning that participation would be limited to Republicans. The organisation informed planning officials that it would not provide logistical or transportation assistance for the event under those circumstances.

The controversy highlights growing political divisions between the White House and Democratic state leaders, raising concerns about reduced bipartisan cooperation at a time when collaboration is needed on national and state-level issues.