NGA won’t facilitate White House meeting after Moore, Polis blocked from attending

The Hill

by Sarah Fortinsky

February 19, 2026

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NGA won’t facilitate White House meeting after Moore, Polis blocked from attending

The National Governors Association (NGA) has canceled its annual meeting at the White House after President Trump rescinded invitations to Democratic governors Wes Moore of Maryland and Jared Polis of Colorado. While the White House will still host a business breakfast on Friday and a lavish dinner on Saturday, the NGA decided not to proceed with facilitating the event as originally planned. This decision comes amid growing tensions between the administration and state leaders, particularly those from opposing parties. The cancellation marks a significant shift in how the White House engages with governors, reflecting broader political divides. Moore and Polis, both known for their vocal opposition to Trump’s policies, were seen as targets due to their alignment with Democratic priorities. This move has raised concerns about partisanship overshadowing bipartisan collaboration at the federal level. The situation highlights a pattern of political targeting by the administration, which has previously excluded certain governors from similar events. While the White House maintains that it remains committed to working with state leaders, critics argue that such exclusions undermine efforts to address national challenges collectively. The NGA’s decision not to facilitate the meeting underscores the growing difficulty of maintaining neutral ground in a highly polarized political environment. This development matters because it signals a potential breakdown in cross-partisan dialogue at the highest levels of government. For readers interested in politics, it reflects how deeply ingrained partisanship is becoming in federal-state relations and its implications for governance. As political divides widen, such incidents raise questions about the ability of leaders to come together on critical issues affecting all Americans.

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Originally published on The Hill on 2/19/2026