Trump Hosts Governors' Breakfast After NGA Pulls Out

The annual White House meeting becomes a partisan flashpoint as the president declines to invite two Democratic governors.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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President Donald Trump is still expected to meet with governors at the White House on Friday, but the event will not be facilitated by the National Governors Association (NGA), an organization founded over a century ago to help state leaders from both parties advocate for their interests in Washington. The Republican president had refused to include Democratic Govs. Jared Polis of Colorado and Wes Moore of Maryland, prompting the NGA to pull out of the annual meeting.

Why it matters

The episode underscores the confrontational approach Trump has taken toward state leaders he does not like, at times threatening to withhold federal money or send in troops over the objections of local leaders. Even a ceremonial White House dinner has become a flashpoint, with fellow Republicans openly acknowledging that Trump's aim as president is not to unify the country.

The details

The NGA is pulling out of the annual meeting at the White House after Trump declined to invite Polis and Moore. The president is expected to hold a working breakfast at 9:30 a.m. EST on Friday. The dynamics are a far cry from the air of bipartisanship that Moore and Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican who chairs the NGA, sought to portray earlier this week.

  • The NGA is pulling out of the annual meeting at the White House.
  • Trump is expected to hold a working breakfast at 9:30 a.m. EST on Friday.

The players

Donald Trump

The president of the United States.

Jared Polis

The Democratic governor of Colorado.

Wes Moore

The Democratic governor of Maryland and the vice chair of the NGA.

Kevin Stitt

The Republican governor of Oklahoma and the chair of the NGA.

Spencer Cox

The Republican governor of Utah.

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What they’re saying

“I've spent quality time with my colleagues this morning and really learning from one another and taking best practices that Republican or Democratic governors have launched in their state. It's really what these meetings are about.”

— Wes Moore, NGA Vice Chair

“I didn't run for governor like, man, I can't wait so me and the president can go toe to toe. But the fact that he is waking up in the middle of the night and tweeting about me, I just, I pray for him and I just feel bad for him because that has just got to be a really, really hard existence.”

— Wes Moore, NGA Vice Chair

“Politics has a way of just beating you down over time so I can't imagine being president of the United States. He's got a tough job to do.”

— Kevin Stitt, NGA Chair

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.