The National Governors Association has canceled its traditional meeting with President Donald Trump after the White House invited only Republican governors to the annual event. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, the NGA's Republican chairman, announced the decision in a letter to fellow governors, stating that the organization's mission to represent all 55 governors cannot be fulfilled under such partisan restrictions.

Scheduled for February 20 during the NGA's Washington meeting from Feb. 19-21, the White House gathering has historically brought together leaders from both parties to discuss pressing state issues. The cancellation follows last year's contentious exchange between Trump and Maine's then-Governor Janet Mills over transgender athlete policies, which devolved into political threats and counter-threats. The confrontation left lasting tensions, with some Democratic governors refusing to renew their dues to the bipartisan organization.

This development marks a significant departure from decades of tradition where presidential meetings with governors transcended party lines. The NGA's decision underscores growing partisan divisions in what was once one of the few remaining venues for bipartisan cooperation among state leaders. With governors now planning their own sessions without White House involvement, the move signals a further erosion of cross-party dialogue at the national level.