Maryland Governor Wes Moore has suggested that his exclusion from a White House dinner is linked to being the only Black governor in the US. The snub affects him and Colorado Governor Jared Polis amid tensions over policy issues. Moore appeared on CNN to voice his concerns during the National Governors Association meeting in Washington.
The National Governors Association (NGA) is holding its meeting in Washington this February, where President Trump has broken with tradition by revoking invitations to a black-tie gala for Maryland Governor Wes Moore, the NGA Vice Chair, and Colorado Governor Jared Polis.
Moore addressed the exclusion on CNN's "State of the Union" with host Dana Bash. When asked why he was singled out, he stated, "It’s not lost to me that I’m the only black governor in this country. And I find that to be particularly painful." He added that he "can’t speak to the president’s intent."
This comes amid ongoing disputes between Moore's administration and the White House. According to The Washington Post, Moore condemned Trump's threats to deploy the National Guard to Baltimore and to withhold federal funding for replacing Maryland's fallen Key Bridge.
The NGA faces divisions, including a "Sanctuary Schism" over linking federal funds to immigration enforcement. Moore has opposed these measures. Similarly, Polis's invitation was revoked following a public feud with Trump over the conviction of Tina Peters, whom Trump called a "scumbag."
Both governors lead a "resistance" group within the NGA, challenging federal policies on issues like National Guard control and public health directives under Dr. Mehmet Oz.
In response, Moore announced that the NGA would withdraw support for the dinner, saying, "if you exclude one, you exclude us all." The incident highlights broader federal-state tensions, where policy disagreements appear to drive the exclusions rather than demographics alone.
