WASHINGTON – The annual gubernatorial dinner at the White House is usually an opportunity for leaders from both parties to meet, socialize and spend a quiet evening with the president. But like many traditions during President Donald Trump’s second term, the Saturday dinner proved unusually controversial.
Before the National Governors Association meeting this week, Trump mocked the leadership of the bipartisan group, Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma and Democratic Gov. Wes Moore of Maryland. He declined Moore’s invitation, along with Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, to a work event at the White House on Friday — but backed out at the last minute.
Even then, the event ended when Trump learned of the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the blanket tariff policy, which left even some Republicans frustrated by the week’s turmoil.
“It was unfortunate that the Supreme Court came out with a bad ruling at that time,” said Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, a Republican and a major Trump ally.
Dozens of Democrats threatened to boycott the dinner if members of their party were banned from attending the business meeting. But even after Moore attended, some said they would not attend Saturday.
“President Trump has made a farce of the whole thing,” Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey said in a statement explaining her decision to skip the dinner.
Some Democrats are planning to attend an alternative event in downtown Washington, according to a person with direct knowledge of the plans who requested anonymity because he is not authorized to speak publicly.
Those who attended previous dinners said they provided a rare and useful opportunity for governors to connect with the president and members of his Cabinet away from the pressures of day-to-day governance. Some also said the dinner was an opportunity to connect with fellow Conservatives from other parties who they may not see often.
Asa Hutchinson, the former Republican governor of Arkansas who briefly challenged Trump for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, remembers being seated for a year at a table with then-Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo and getting to know her family.
“It’s a glowing evening at the White House,” Hutchinson, who once headed the NGA, said in an interview.
The final day of the conference on Saturday focused on issues including affordability and political civility. During a conversation about immigration, Moore and Stitt said both parties have failed for decades to address the issue.
States should be empowered to issue workforce permits, Stitt said, and warned that both parties are making false policy assumptions.
“People think that all Democrats want open borders and that all Republicans hate immigrants,” he said.
But Stitt noted that “Trump voters in rural Oklahoma” have contacted him privately saying they can’t run their businesses without people trying to get a work permit.
Despite all the turmoil surrounding this week’s meeting, Moore said the conference was a success.
He said: “There have been many forces over the past weeks that were intentional and determined to separate us.” “Despite everything we have seen and heard and all the booby traps that have been set to blow up this conference, we stand here at the end of this conference stronger than ever before.”
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