U.S. Governors Unite in Washington: Breaking Free from Trump’s Partisan Politics

WASHINGTON – Once, such a sight might have been commonplace, but in the current political climate of President Donald Trump’s Washington, it stands out as a rarity.

On stage together were Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, a Republican, and Maryland Governor Wes Moore, a Democrat, exchanging lighthearted banter and praise rather than barbs and blame. It was a brief moment of harmony amid an often discordant political landscape.

Stitt and Moore helm the National Governors Association (NGA), one of the few bipartisan entities still functioning in the American political arena. However, as the NGA convenes for its annual meeting this week, its ability to remain a sanctuary from political strife is increasingly in question.

Defying traditional protocol, Trump has opted not to extend an invitation to all governors for the customary White House meeting and dinner. He has labeled Stitt, the NGA chair, as a “RINO” (Republican in name only) and has continued to clash with Moore, the vice chair, over a sewage spill from a federally regulated pipeline.

This departure from tradition is indicative of Trump’s overall approach to his second term, where he has often adopted a combative stance with certain states, at times withholding federal funding or deploying troops despite opposition from state leaders.

With the Republican-controlled Congress unwilling to limit Trump’s ambitions, several governors have increasingly cast themselves as a counterweight to the White House.

“Presidents aren’t supposed to do this stuff,” Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said about the expansion of executive power in recent administrations. “Congress needs to get their act together. And stop performing for TikTok and actually start doing stuff. That’s the flaw we’re dealing with right now.”

Cox, a Republican, said “it is up to the states to hold the line.”

Moore echoed that sentiment in an interview with The Associated Press.

“People are paying attention to how governors are moving, because I think governors have a unique way to move in this moment that other people just don’t,” he said.

Still, governors struck an optimistic tone in panels and interviews Wednesday. Stitt said the conference is “bigger than one dinner at the White House.” Moore predicted “this is going to be a very productive three days for the governors.”

“Here’s a Republican and Democrat governor from different states that literally agree on probably 80% of the things. And the things we disagree on we can have honest conversations on,” Stitt said while sitting beside Moore.

Tensions over the guest list for White House events underscored the uncertainty surrounding the week. During the back-and-forth, Trump feuded with Stitt and said Moore and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis were not invited because they “are not worthy of being there.”

Whether the bipartisan tone struck Wednesday evening can endure through the week — and beyond — remains an open question.

“We can have disagreements. In business, I always want people around me arguing with me and pushing me because that’s where the best ideas come from,” said Stitt. “We need to all have these exchange of ideas.”