Trump Invites Most Democratic Governors to White House Dinner After Backlash

President reverses course on plans for partisan event after criticism from bipartisan governors' group.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that an upcoming annual dinner and meeting with governors will include most Democratic governors, after facing backlash over reports that the event would only include Republican governors. Trump noted that he did not invite Colorado Governor Jared Polis and Maryland Governor Wes Moore, both Democrats, but said he looks forward to seeing the Republican governors and "some of the Democrat Governors who were worthy of being invited."

Why it matters

The White House governors meeting is traditionally a bipartisan event, and the reported plan to exclude Democratic governors drew criticism from the National Governors Association, which called it a "break from its bipartisan past." The decision also sparked outrage from some Democratic governors, including Moore, who is the only Black governor in the country.

The details

Trump's statement came after Politico magazine reported on Friday that the upcoming White House dinner with the National Governors Association (NGA) would only include Republicans. The NGA's acting executive director criticized the decision, saying the bipartisan meeting is an "important tradition." White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the administration's initial decision, saying the White House is "the president's home, and so he can invite whomever he wants to dinners and events here." However, Trump has now reversed course and says he will invite most Democratic governors to the event.

  • The upcoming annual dinner and meeting with governors is scheduled for an unspecified date.
  • On February 10, 2026, Politico magazine reported that the White House dinner would only include Republican governors.
  • On February 11, 2026, Trump posted on Truth Social that he would invite most Democratic governors to the event.

The players

Donald Trump

The 45th President of the United States.

Jared Polis

The Democratic Governor of Colorado.

Wes Moore

The Democratic Governor of Maryland and the current vice chair of the National Governors Association.

Karoline Leavitt

The White House press secretary.

National Governors Association (NGA)

A bipartisan organization that represents the nation's governors.

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What they’re saying

“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, Acting executive director and CEO of the National Governors Association (Politico)

“It's not lost on me that I'm the only Black governor in this country, and I find that to be particularly painful, considering the fact that the president is trying to exclude me from an organization that not only my peers have asked me to help to lead, but then also a place where I know I belong in.”

— Wes Moore (CNN)

What’s next

The White House has not provided details on the specific date of the upcoming governors' dinner, but it is expected to take place in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing partisan divide in American politics, even at traditionally bipartisan events. The White House's initial decision to exclude Democratic governors drew strong criticism, but Trump's reversal shows the political pressure he faced to maintain the event's historic tradition of bringing together leaders from both parties.