Maryland Governor Wes Moore Blames 'Being The Only Black Governor' for White House Snub

Moore claims racial discrimination after being uninvited to White House dinner, despite ongoing policy disputes with the administration.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Maryland Governor Wes Moore has accused President Trump of racially discriminating against him by uninviting him from a White House dinner for the National Governors Association. However, evidence suggests Moore's exclusion is more likely tied to his role as a vocal critic of the administration's policies, particularly around immigration enforcement and federal funding for Maryland infrastructure projects.

Why it matters

The dispute between Governor Moore and the White House highlights the growing partisan divide and policy battles between state and federal governments, with the racial discrimination claim adding further political tension. The situation raises questions about how political disagreements are framed and whether race is being inappropriately invoked as a factor.

The details

President Trump revoked invitations for both Moore, the NGA Vice Chair, and Colorado Governor Jared Polis to attend a scheduled White House dinner for the National Governors Association. Rather than acknowledging the substantive policy disputes between his administration and the governors, Moore claimed the snub was due to him being 'the only black governor in this country.' However, Governor Polis, who is not black, was also uninvited, suggesting the exclusions were more tied to the governors' roles as antagonists to the administration's agenda on issues like immigration and federal funding.

  • The National Governors Association is meeting in Washington in February 2026.
  • President Trump revoked the invitations to the White House dinner in the lead-up to the NGA meeting.

The players

Wes Moore

The Democratic Governor of Maryland who has been a vocal critic of the Trump administration's policies, particularly around immigration enforcement and federal funding for Maryland infrastructure projects.

Jared Polis

The Democratic Governor of Colorado who was also uninvited from the White House dinner, suggesting the exclusions were tied to policy disputes rather than race.

President Trump

The Republican President who revoked the invitations to the White House dinner for the National Governors Association.

National Governors Association (NGA)

The bipartisan organization of state governors that is currently divided over the Trump administration's policies, particularly around immigration enforcement.

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What they’re saying

“It's not lost to me that I'm the only black governor in this country. And I find that to be particularly painful.”

— Wes Moore, Governor of Maryland (CNN's 'State of the Union')

What’s next

The National Governors Association is expected to formally withdraw its support for the White House dinner in response to the exclusions of Governor Moore and Governor Polis.

The takeaway

This dispute highlights the growing partisan divide and policy battles between state and federal governments, with accusations of racial discrimination adding further political tension. The situation raises questions about how political disagreements are framed and whether race is being inappropriately invoked as a factor when policy disputes are the more likely root cause.