The invitations were supposed to be simple: a weekend in Washington, a business meeting at theWhite House, and a black-tie dinner where partisan warfare is usually checked at the door. Instead, the annual gathering of America's governors has turned into a small, chaotic parable about howDonald Trumpdoes politics — with public snubs, online tirades, and a gaping question over who is 'worthy' to be in the room.
By tradition, the National Governors Association (NGA) brings leaders from all 50 states and five territories to Washington every February. They talk policy, compare notes, and, crucially, cross the aisle. A White House meeting with the president and a glamorous governors' dinner have long been the centrepieces of the weekend.
This year, that custom has been thrown into doubt by a muddle of decisions, reversals and social media blasts that left even seasoned political staff asking a basic question: who is actually invited?
The trouble began on Monday, when Oklahoma's Republican governor, Kevin Stitt — who currently chairs the NGA — told his fellow governors that the White House intended to restrict the 20 February business meeting to Republicans only.
'NGA staff was informed that the White House intends to limit invitations to the annual business meeting, scheduled for February 20, to Republican governors only,' Stitt wrote in a letter. Because the association represents 'all 55 governors', he added, the NGA would no longer help facilitate the event and would strike it from its official programme.
It was an unusually firm pushback from a Republican ally. 'We cannot allow one divisive action to achieve its goal of dividing us,' Stitt warned, sounding more like a civics textbook than a MAGA-era politician. At that point, he noted, no invitations had yet gone out.
That changed quickly. According to a person familiar with the planning, Republican governors received their invites later that same day.
By Wednesday, after a call with Trump, Stitt appeared to claim victory. In a second letter, sent at 2pm Eastern, he told governors that the president had backed off the idea of excluding Democrats from the meeting, chalking the earlier plan up to a 'misunderstanding in scheduling'.
Trump, Stitt said, had been 'very clear' that this was an NGA event and that he was looking forward to hearing from governors 'across the country'. About half an hour later, Democratic governors finally received their invitations to the Friday business meeting.
So far, so messy but salvageable. The business session seemed back on a bipartisan footing. The separate 21 February black-tie dinner at the White House was another matter.
Source: International Business Times UK
