Maryland Governor Responds After Being Snubbed from White House Meeting

Gov. Wes Moore says Trump does not determine his 'worthiness' after being excluded from upcoming NGA event.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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Maryland Governor Wes Moore spoke out after being excluded from an upcoming White House meeting of the National Governors Association. Moore, who serves as the vice president of the NGA, said he is fine with missing the event if the purpose is to insult him and other Democratic governors. President Trump criticized Moore's leadership and character in a social media post, claiming the governor is 'not worthy' of attending the meeting.

Why it matters

The annual NGA meeting is one of the few remaining bipartisan gatherings of state leaders, making Moore's exclusion a politically charged move. It highlights the growing partisan divide between the Democratic governor and the Republican former president.

The details

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Trump has the discretion to invite anyone he wants to the White House for the NGA meeting, which is scheduled for February 19-21. In a social media post, Trump criticized Moore's leadership and character, referring to him as the 'foul mouthed Governor of Maryland' who 'fraudulently stated that he received Military medals' and is 'doing a terrible job' on infrastructure. Moore responded by saying Trump does not get to determine his 'worthiness', stating that the people of Maryland are who he answers to.

  • The NGA meeting is scheduled for February 19-21, 2026.
  • Moore spoke out about the snub during a CBS News Town Hall on Thursday, February 14, 2026.

The players

Wes Moore

The Democratic governor of Maryland and vice president of the National Governors Association.

Donald Trump

The former Republican president of the United States who criticized Gov. Moore and excluded him from the upcoming NGA meeting at the White House.

Karoline Leavitt

The White House Press Secretary who stated that President Trump has the discretion to invite whomever he wants to the NGA meeting at the White House.

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What they’re saying

“If the point of the meeting is that, nah, I'm good.”

— Wes Moore, Governor of Maryland (CBS News)

“I do want to be clear to the president: respectfully, you do not determine my worthiness. God determines my worthiness. The people of Maryland determine my worthiness. They are who I answer to, not him.”

— Wes Moore, Governor of Maryland (CBS News)

What’s next

The upcoming NGA meeting at the White House is scheduled for February 19-21, 2026.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the growing partisan divide between Democratic and Republican leaders, even at traditionally bipartisan events like the National Governors Association meeting. It raises questions about whether the White House will continue to exclude certain state leaders based on political affiliation, undermining the collaborative spirit of the NGA.