Stitt says conservatives won’t hold a meeting with Trump after the White House invited only Republicans

WASHINGTON (AP) — The National Governors Association will not hold a formal meeting with President Donald Trump when a group of state leaders meets in Washington later this month after the White House planned to invite only Republicans.

“NGA staff have been informed that the White House intends to limit invitations to the annual business meeting, scheduled for February 20, to Republican governors only,” Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican and president of the NGA, said in a letter Monday to fellow governors obtained by The Associated Press. “Because the NGA’s mission is to represent all 55 Governors, the NGA is no longer serving as a facilitator for this event, and is no longer included in our official program.”

The NGA is scheduled to meet in Washington from February 19-21. Representatives for Stitt, the White House and the NGA did not immediately comment on the letter.

NGA CEO Brandon Tatum said in a statement last week that the White House gathering is an “important tradition” and said the organization is “disappointed in the administration’s decision to make it a partisan event this year.”

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The Conservative Caucus is one of the few remaining places where political leaders from both major parties come together to discuss the most important issues facing their communities. In his message, Stitt encouraged state governors to unite around common goals.

“We cannot allow one divisive action to achieve its goal of dividing us,” he wrote. “The solution is not to reciprocate, but to step up and stay focused on our shared duty to the people we serve. America’s governors have always been models of practical leadership, and that example becomes even more important when Washington becomes distracted by politics.”

Signs of partisan tensions emerged at a White House meeting last year, when Trump and then-Gov. Janet Mills exchanged barbs.

Trump singled out the Democratic governor for seeking to ban transgender athletes from competing in girls’ and women’s sports, and threatened to withhold federal funding from the state if she did not comply. “We’ll see you in court,” Mills replied.

Trump then predicted that Mills’ political career would end because of his opposition to this matter. She is now running for US Senate.

Disagreements had a lasting impact on last year’s convention, and some Democratic governors did not renew their dues last year to the bipartisan group.

Peoples reported from New York.