Stitt-Trump dispute over governors’ White House events revives tensions during National Governors Association gathering in Washington

A bipartisan tradition becomes a flashpoint

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, the Republican chair of the National Governors Association (NGA), has again found himself in open conflict with President Donald Trump over the scope and purpose of the governors’ annual White House engagement in Washington.

The dispute unfolded during the NGA’s winter meeting in the nation’s capital, where governors traditionally gather for policy sessions and a White House business meeting intended to include leaders from both parties. This year, the arrangement became uncertain after internal communications indicated that the White House planned to limit participation in at least one event.

What triggered the latest clash

Stitt told governors that the NGA would not serve as the facilitator for the White House business meeting if the event did not include all governors. The position placed the Oklahoma governor at odds with Trump, who publicly criticized Stitt and argued that the White House had broad discretion over invitations.

In the days that followed, the White House indicated that governors would be invited to the business meeting. Separately, Trump moved to exclude two Democratic governors—Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis—from a White House dinner tied to the NGA weekend. That decision prompted a coordinated response from Democratic governors, several of whom said they would not attend the dinner if any members were excluded.

Meetings proceed as invitation dispute continues

The governors’ business meeting at the White House went forward on February 20, 2026. Afterward, Stitt and Moore appeared together publicly and characterized the session as constructive, describing discussions that included affordability, infrastructure, energy, transportation, disaster relief and immigration enforcement.

Even as the White House meeting proceeded, the episode highlighted a key fault line: whether NGA-branded White House events should remain uniformly bipartisan, or whether the president can redefine the guest list while still treating the gathering as part of the governors’ official program.

Why the disagreement matters for Oklahoma

Stitt’s posture is notable because he has generally aligned with Trump on major issues, including immigration enforcement, while also, at times, breaking with the administration on disputes involving state authority. The latest confrontation also carries political significance in Oklahoma, where Stitt is in his second term and is expected to be term-limited after 2026.

• Stitt’s central position: As NGA chair, he is tasked with representing governors across parties and states.
• White House leverage: The president controls access to White House events, creating recurring tension between tradition and discretion.
• Bipartisan participation: Governors from both parties have argued that the annual format is valuable only if it includes all members.

“You can invite whoever you want to the White House, but it can’t be an NGA event if it’s not inclusive of all governors,” Stitt said during the week’s events in Washington.

For now, the White House business meeting proceeded with bipartisan participation, but the broader dispute over invitations and protocols remains unresolved as governors weigh how to preserve one of the few remaining cross-party forums in national politics.