Trump rules out Democratic governor; US Governors Association refuses to attend White House meeting

The National Governors Association of the United States cancelled its formal meeting with President Trump at the White House because the White House excluded Democratic governors from this annual event.

Reuters reported that an insider disclosed on Tuesday (February 10th) that the president of the National Governors Association, Republican Governor Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma, said in a letter to other governors on the 9th that the White House plans to limit the invitation list for the annual business conference to Republican governors. As the association's mission is to represent all governors and territorial governors of the United States, the association no longer acts as the organizer of the White House conference and no longer includes the White House conference in the official schedule.

Brandon Tatum, the chief executive of the bipartisan association representing US governors, said in a statement: "Withdrawing the invitations for individual governors to attend White House meetings has undermined an important opportunity for cooperation between the federal government and the states."

"At this moment in our country's history, it is of utmost importance for all institutions to continue to uphold unity, dignity and constructive engagement."

White House Press Secretary Levet responded at a press conference on the 10th, saying: "The president can invite anyone he wants to come to the White House for dinner or to participate in activities. He welcomes all those who receive the invitation to come. If they don't come, it's their loss."

Every year, governors from all over the United States gather in Washington to attend the annual meeting of the National Governors Association. As is customary, the president will entertain the governors at the White House, hold meetings with cabinet ministers and other officials, and host a grand dinner for the governors and their spouses.

The White House meeting originally scheduled for February 20th was part of the National Governors Association's annual winter gathering. The leadership of the National Governors Association consists of nine members, including the association's president Stitt and the vice president of the association, Wes Moore, a Democratic governor of Maryland.

The New York Times reported last week that Trump still plans to hold a separate bipartisan dinner at the White House for state governors and their spouses. However, Trump instructed to remove Moore and another Democratic association member, Colorado Governor Jared Polis, from the invitation list.

Moore's spokesperson said: "The National Governors Association has a long tradition of bipartisan gatherings, aimed at sharing best practices and ideas, regardless of party affiliation. This is what the American people expect and deserve. Unfortunately, the White House does not seem to share this view."

The spokesperson for Polis did not immediately respond to the request for comment.

It is reported that at a meeting between the National Governors Association and Trump held at the White House in February last year, the tense relationship between the two parties was prominently displayed. At that time, Trump specifically criticized Maine's governor, Democrat Janet Mills, for attempting to obstruct the implementation of one of his executive orders, and threatened to withhold federal funds from Maine. Mills responded, "See you in court."

The National Governors Association of the United States held a meeting in Washington from February 19th to 21st. According to the official website, the National Governors Association was established in 1908 and is "an important platform for bipartisan cooperation to seek policy solutions", with its members including the governors of the 50 states of the United States and the governors of the 5 territories.