White House Governors Dinner: Democratic Governors Boycott February 21, 2026 Event Over Guest List

Many Democratic governors did not attend the White House dinner on February 21, 2026. This is different from past years when most governors went.
By Newsroom | Politics, USA |

A recent White House dinner intended to foster bipartisan relations among the nation's governors became a focal point of political tension, as a significant number of Democratic governors opted to boycott the event. This boycott was directly linked to decisions made by President Donald Trump regarding invitations, specifically the exclusion of two Democratic governors, Wes Moore of Maryland and Jared Polis of Colorado. The event, typically a low-key gathering for leaders across party lines, saw President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump host the governors on February 21, 2026, during the National Governors Association (NGA) winter meeting. However, the optics were dramatically altered by the visible absence of Democratic leadership, signaling a deep rift in the traditional, often cordial, interactions between the White House and state executives.

POTUS and FLOTUS in Attendance at White House Governors Dinner — but Note Who Didn't Show Up - 1

Context of the Governors' Dinner

The annual White House dinner for governors is a long-standing tradition, usually held in conjunction with the National Governors Association (NGA) winter meeting. This gathering traditionally offers a platform for governors from both major parties to interact with the President in a more informal setting. The February 21, 2026, dinner occurred during a turbulent week in Washington for the governors, as noted by AP News.

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POTUS and FLOTUS in Attendance at White House Governors Dinner — but Note Who Didn't Show Up - 2

However, this year's event diverged significantly from its predecessors due to pre-event actions by the White House. Reports indicate that President Trump initially excluded Democratic governors from a formal business meeting and subsequently from the traditional bipartisan dinner. While invitations were reportedly extended to nearly all governors, specific exclusions were made for Democratic Governors Wes Moore and Jared Polis. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the President's prerogative, stating, "It’s the people’s house, it’s also the President’s home, so he can invite whomever he wants to dinners and events here."

POTUS and FLOTUS in Attendance at White House Governors Dinner — but Note Who Didn't Show Up - 3

This selective invitation process triggered a response from the Democratic Governors Association and a chorus of other Democratic governors, leading to a widespread boycott of the White House dinner. The NGA itself indicated that a formal meeting with President Trump would not be held, as reported by AP News on February 10, 2026.

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POTUS and FLOTUS in Attendance at White House Governors Dinner — but Note Who Didn't Show Up - 4

Evidence of the Dispute and Boycott

Multiple sources corroborate the circumstances surrounding the governors' dinner and the ensuing boycott:

  • Exclusion of Specific Governors: President Trump's decision to exclude Democratic Governors Wes Moore and Jared Polis was a central catalyst. The White House did not provide explicit reasons for their exclusion, although RedState.com noted an ongoing feud between Trump and Governor Moore over a sewage spill.

  • Democratic Response: In protest of the exclusions, a significant number of Democratic governors announced their intention to boycott the White House dinner. This collective action was highlighted by TIME and USA Today, with the Democratic Governors Association, chaired by Andy Beshear, also indicating non-attendance.

  • White House Justification: The White House, through Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, maintained that the President has the authority to determine guest lists for White House events.

  • Breaking Tradition: The dinner, typically a bipartisan event, became notably partisan due to these invitations. CBS News reported that Trump stated nearly all governors were invited, with the explicit exception of the two Democratic governors.

  • NGA Meeting Cancellation: The dispute led to the unraveling of a planned formal meeting between the NGA and President Trump, as reported by AP News.

Disagreement Over Invitation Policies

The core of the conflict centers on the White House's discretion in extending invitations to events that have historically served as bipartisan functions.

  • President's Authority vs. Bipartisan Norms: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt asserted the President's right to control guest lists for White House functions. This stance, however, was seen by many Democratic governors as a departure from the tradition of inclusivity at such events.

  • Justification for Exclusion: While the White House did not offer a detailed explanation for excluding Governors Moore and Polis, speculation pointed to political disagreements. For instance, RedState.com mentioned a dispute between President Trump and Governor Moore.

  • Impact on NGA Meetings: The controversy extended beyond the dinner, affecting the broader National Governors Association gathering. AP News reported that the NGA would no longer hold a formal meeting with President Trump due to the White House's invitation policies.

The Impact of Exclusion on Governors

The decision to exclude specific governors and the subsequent boycott highlight a heightened level of partisan division affecting traditional inter-branch interactions.

  • Symbolic Boycott: The Democratic governors' decision to boycott was a clear signal of their objection to the White House's perceived partisanship. TIME noted that the boycott was a response to President Trump excluding Governors Moore and Polis.

  • President's Position: Despite the boycott, the White House framed the situation as "their loss," as reported by USA Today, indicating a lack of concern over the Democratic absence.

  • Shared Concerns: Democratic governors voiced their solidarity, with Fox News reporting that a chorus of Democratic governors rallied behind their excluded colleagues.

Attendance and Notable Absences

President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were present and hosted the dinner on February 21, 2026. Images shared on social media by the First Lady's office and other accounts showed the event taking place. However, the absence of a significant portion of Democratic governors was a prominent observation. Reports from reporters on the scene noted that no Democrats appeared to be in attendance at the dinner, as highlighted by RedState.com.

Conclusion

The White House Governors Dinner on February 21, 2026, underscored a notable fracture in bipartisan engagement at the executive level. President Trump's decision to exclude specific Democratic governors, Wes Moore and Jared Polis, from the event and associated meetings prompted a widespread boycott by Democratic governors. While the White House maintained the President's prerogative to select guests, this action deviated from the traditional inclusive nature of the annual governors' dinner. The event proceeded with the President and First Lady hosting, but the visible absence of Democratic leadership served as a clear indicator of ongoing partisan tensions and their impact on traditional inter-governmental interactions. The situation also led to the cancellation of a formal meeting between the NGA and the President, further reflecting the contentious atmosphere surrounding the event.

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Used Sources and Context:

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why did many Democratic governors not go to the White House Governors Dinner on February 21, 2026?
Many Democratic governors did not attend the dinner to protest President Trump's decision to exclude Governors Wes Moore of Maryland and Jared Polis of Colorado from the event. This exclusion led to a widespread boycott by Democratic leaders.
Q: What did the White House say about not inviting Governors Moore and Polis to the February 21, 2026 dinner?
The White House stated that the President has the right to invite whomever he chooses to events at the White House, calling it 'the people's house' and 'the President's home.' No specific reasons were given for the exclusions.
Q: What happened because of the Democratic governors' boycott of the White House dinner on February 21, 2026?
The boycott highlighted political divisions. It also caused the National Governors Association (NGA) to cancel a planned formal meeting with President Trump, as the invitation issues affected the entire NGA gathering.
Q: Who attended the White House Governors Dinner on February 21, 2026, despite the boycott?
President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump hosted the dinner. Reports indicated that no Democratic governors were present at the dinner itself due to the boycott.
Q: Were any other meetings affected by the guest list dispute for the February 21, 2026 White House Governors Dinner?
Yes, the dispute over invitations led to the cancellation of a formal meeting between the National Governors Association (NGA) and President Trump. This shows how the invitation issue impacted the wider governor's meeting.