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WASHINGTON – The yearly dinner with governors at the White House is traditionally an occasion for political leaders from both sides to gather, mingle, and enjoy a relaxed evening with the president. However, as with many customs during President Donald Trump’s second term, this Saturday’s dinner has stirred up more controversy than usual.
In the lead-up to the National Governors Association meeting this week, Trump publicly criticized the group’s bipartisan leadership, which includes Republican Governor Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma and Democratic Governor Wes Moore of Maryland. Initially, he excluded Moore, along with Governor Jared Polis of Colorado, from a White House working event on Friday, though he ultimately reversed his decision at the last moment.
Despite this late invitation, the event was abruptly cut short when Trump received news that the Supreme Court had overturned his extensive tariff policy. This development left even some Republican allies dismayed by the disruption of the week’s events.
“It was unfortunate that the Supreme Court came out with a bad ruling at that time,” remarked Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, a Republican and staunch supporter of Trump.
Several Democratic governors had indicated they might boycott the dinner if their peers were excluded from the working meeting. Although Moore ended up attending, some Democrats decided they would still skip Saturday’s event.
“President Trump has made this whole thing a farce,” Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said in a statement explaining her decision to skip the dinner.
For all the turmoil surrounding the dinner, some Democrats said Friday’s meeting was useful. Moore said it offered a “chance for us to be able to share our thoughts and our perspectives and our ideas.”
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said governors asked Trump what lessons were learned from the administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement in Minnesota, in which two U.S. citizens were killed within weeks of each other.
“The President said, ‘We’ll only go where we’re wanted,” Hochul said approvingly.
Those who have attended previous dinners said they offered a rare and helpful opportunity for governors to connect with the president and members of his Cabinet away from the pressure of daily governing. Some also said the dinner was a chance to connect with fellow governors from other parties whom they might not see very often.
Asa Hutchinson, the former Republican governor of Arkansas who briefly challenged Trump for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, recalled being assigned to a table one year with then-Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo and getting to know her family.
“It’s a glowing evening in the White House,” Hutchinson, who once chaired the NGA, said in an interview.
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