Governors’ White House Dinner Caps Off Week of Political Drama

The traditional White House dinner for governors concluded a chaotic week marked by President Trump's criticism of bipartisan leadership and last-minute changes to scheduled meetings. Several Democratic governors, including Maryland's Wes Moore, faced exclusion from events before Trump reversed course, though some still boycotted the dinner.

WASHINGTON — What’s normally a peaceful opportunity for state leaders from across party lines to gather and enjoy a relaxed evening with the president turned into another contentious affair during President Donald Trump’s second administration. Saturday’s traditional White House dinner for governors capped off a week filled with unprecedented drama and political tensions.

Prior to this week’s National Governors Association meeting, Trump publicly criticized the organization’s bipartisan leadership team, which includes Oklahoma Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt and Maryland Democratic Gov. Wes Moore. Initially, the president excluded Moore and Colorado’s Gov. Jared Polis from Friday’s working session at the White House before changing his mind at the eleventh hour.

The Friday meeting was abruptly shortened when Trump received news about the Supreme Court’s ruling against his comprehensive tariff plan, creating frustration among attendees from both parties.

“It was unfortunate that the Supreme Court came out with a bad ruling at that time,” Louisiana Republican Gov. Jeff Landry, a strong Trump supporter, commented.

Multiple Democratic governors had warned they would skip Saturday’s dinner entirely if their colleagues remained barred from Friday’s session. Despite Moore’s eventual inclusion, several still chose to stay away from the dinner.

“President Trump has made this whole thing a farce,” Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey declared when announcing her decision to avoid the dinner.

Despite all the surrounding chaos, some Democratic leaders found value in Friday’s discussions. Moore described it as a “chance for us to be able to share our thoughts and our perspectives and our ideas.”

New York’s Gov. Kathy Hochul revealed that state leaders questioned Trump about insights gained from his administration’s intensive immigration operations in Minnesota, where two American citizens died within a short timeframe.

“The President said, ‘We’ll only go where we’re wanted,'” Hochul reported with apparent satisfaction.

Veterans of previous White House dinners emphasized their importance as unique opportunities for state executives to build relationships with the president and Cabinet members outside the pressures of routine governance. Many also valued the chance to network with governors from opposing parties they rarely encounter otherwise.

Former Arkansas Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who mounted a brief presidential challenge against Trump in 2024, remembered being seated with then-Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo one year and building a personal connection with her family.

“It’s a glowing evening in the White House,” said Hutchinson, who previously led the National Governors Association.