Maryland Gov. Wes Moore says the White House uninvited him from this year’s National Governors Association dinner, a tradition long seen as a bipartisan opportunity to build cooperation between state leaders and the president.
Moore, a Democrat and the vice chair of the NGA, announced the news in a statement Sunday, calling the decision “another example of blatant disrespect” toward governors and the spirit of federal-state partnership.”
“This week, I learned that I was uninvited to this year’s National Governors Association dinner — a decades-long annual tradition meant to bring governors from both parties together to build bonds,” Moore said.
He noted that his peers, both Democrats and Republicans, selected him to serve in leadership. “My peers … selected me to serve as the Vice Chair of the NGA,” he said.
Moore also addressed his identity in the statement, saying being the nation’s only Black governor carries added weight in the exclusion, even if that wasn’t the intent.
“As the nation’s only Black governor, I can’t ignore that being singled out for exclusion … carries an added weight — whether that was the intent or not,” he wrote.
Tradition Interrupted
The NGA dinner has long been part of a winter summit in Washington that brings governors from all 50 states to meet with the president. Past gatherings included working sessions and social events designed to foster bipartisan dialogue.
This year’s summit, scheduled for Feb. 19-21, will proceed without the White House meeting as part of the official agenda, according to organizers.
In addition to Moore, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, another Democrat, also had his invitation revoked from the White House blacklist of dinner guests.
The White House has offered limited comment, saying the president reserves the right to invite whomever he chooses. “These are White House events and the President reserves the right to invite whomever he wants,” a spokesman told reporters.
But Moore and others say the decision departs from norms. Interim NGA CEO Brandon Tatum said in a statement the exclusion “undermines an important opportunity for federal-state collaboration.”
Moore stressed he remains committed to bipartisan work despite the snub. He recalled a recent bipartisan meeting at the White House focused on energy costs and grid reliability, saying that session showed what’s possible when leaders prioritize outcomes.
“We proved … what’s possible when we stay focused on outcomes over politics,” he said.
Moore added that his approach “will never change” and reaffirmed his willingness to work with the administration where cooperation can benefit Maryland residents. “I promised the people of my state I will work with anybody but will bow down to nobody,” he said.
The unusual exclusion has drawn attention from national observers, who see it as evidence of fraying bipartisan traditions at a time of deep political polarization.