In a dramatic protest against what they perceive as a partisan attack, most of the nation's Democratic governors have declared they will skip upcoming White House events. This decision comes after President Donald Trump reportedly excluded certain Democratic state executives from a meeting traditionally held as part of the National Governors Association’s (NGA) annual gathering.

POLITICO revealed that this year's meeting at the White House would break from tradition by inviting only Republican governors, sidelining prominent Democrats like Maryland's Wes Moore and Colorado's Jared Polis. The exclusion has drawn sharp criticism from across the political landscape, highlighting a deepening rift between the current administration and Democratic-led states.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the selective invitations, stating that the White House, while public, is also the President's residence where he "can invite whomever he wants." However, the decision not to invite Vice Chair of the NGA, Wes Moore, who is currently the only Black governor, has raised additional concerns about potential racial motivations. In an interview with CNN’s “State of the Union,” Moore expressed his dismay, emphasizing the painful implication of his exclusion from a platform where he believes he rightfully belongs.

The backlash led to 18 Democratic governors announcing a boycott of the White House dinner, a move they revealed in a joint statement asserting their unity and ongoing commitment to their constituents. “If the reports are true that not all governors are invited to these events, which have historically been productive and bipartisan opportunities for collaboration, we will not be attending the White House dinner this year,” the governors stated.

The NGA itself has responded to the controversy. After it was confirmed that only Republicans were invited to the meeting with Trump, the NGA announced it would not use its resources to support the meeting. Brandon Tatum, CEO of the NGA, expressed disappointment in the administration's decision to politicize what has typically been a bipartisan event.

This boycott follows a series of contentious interactions between Democratic governors and the Trump administration over policies and decisions that have significant implications at the state level. Last year, an argument erupted during the meeting between Trump and the governors over the administration’s policy on transgender athletes, with Trump threatening to pull funding and Maine Gov. Janet Mills vowing to sue.

As the Democratic governors stand united in their boycott, the episode underscores the ongoing challenges in state-federal relationships and the potential for further polarization as political tensions continue to escalate.