Gov. Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma, the Republican chair of the National Governors Association, said on Wednesday he will attend the White House dinner this weekend with the caveat that it is not considered an NGA event.
The decision not to host the organization’s annual winter meeting at the White House was made in response to President Donald Trump barring two Democratic governors from this week’s business meeting.
The meeting is an annual event that includes a Saturday dinner at the White House and has historically been bipartisan. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, the Democratic vice chair of the NGA, and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis were both left off the invitation list, resulting in other Democrats boycotting.