Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt says all governors will be invited to White House business meeting

Shift follows dispute over invitations during National Governors Association gathering in Washington

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt said Wednesday that all U.S. governors will be invited to a White House “business meeting” with President Donald Trump during the National Governors Association’s (NGA) winter meeting in Washington, D.C., scheduled for Feb. 19–21.

Stitt, a Republican who serves as NGA chair, said he spoke by phone with Trump on Wednesday morning and was told the annual business meeting would take place at the White House. The development reverses what had appeared earlier in the week to be a breakdown in the tradition of governors meeting with the sitting president during the NGA’s annual Washington convening.

How the controversy unfolded

The dispute began after governors were informed that invitations for the White House business meeting were expected to be limited to Republican governors. In response, NGA leaders moved to stop facilitating the meeting as an official part of the organization’s program, arguing the association’s mission is to represent all 55 state and territorial governors, as well as the mayor of the District of Columbia, rather than a single party.

The controversy also overlapped with a planned White House dinner typically held during the NGA winter meeting. Reports of limited invitations prompted a public response from Democratic governors, including warnings of a boycott of the dinner if Democratic leaders were excluded from the broader White House engagement.

What is known about the White House meeting

As of Wednesday, the key confirmed change is the scope of the invitation list: Stitt said the White House meeting would include governors from both parties. Specific timing and format details had not been finalized publicly, and it remained unclear whether the separate White House dinner would proceed as previously planned or be modified.

White House officials have emphasized that invitations to events at the executive mansion are determined by the president.

Why it matters for states, including Oklahoma

The NGA winter meeting is one of the largest annual gatherings of governors and often features policy discussions with federal officials on issues that cut across state lines. This year’s published agenda includes topics such as education, energy, economic growth and artificial intelligence.

For Oklahoma, Stitt’s role as NGA chair places him at the center of organizing the governors’ national agenda and managing relationships with federal leaders. The association’s leadership structure for the 2025–2026 year also includes Maryland Gov. Wes Moore as vice chair and chair-elect.

• Event: National Governors Association Winter Meeting
• Dates: Feb. 19–21, 2026
• Location: Washington, D.C., with a White House session expected

Stitt said the governors’ association could not appropriately facilitate White House meetings if any governors were excluded, and he confirmed that the invitation would extend to all governors.

The episode underscores the sensitivity surrounding one of Washington’s few regularly scheduled bipartisan forums for state executives, and the practical stakes for governors who rely on federal-state coordination on funding, emergency management and major policy implementation.