Trump hosts Governors Breakfast after the National Governors Association pulled out of the event

WASHINGTON (AP) — The National Governors Association has withdrawn from its annual meeting at the White House after President Donald Trump declined to invite two Democratic governors, undermining one of the few remaining bipartisan caucuses in Washington.

Trump is still expected to meet with state governors at the White House on Friday, but the event will not be facilitated by an organization founded more than a century ago to help state leaders of both parties defend their interests in Washington. The Republican president had refused to include Democratic governors. Colorado’s Jared Polis and Maryland’s Wes Moore recently criticized them on social media as “not worthy of being there.”

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In a brief interview Thursday, Polis said he had “no ability to get into (Trump’s) head.” Polis said, however, that he is meeting with governors from both parties while in the nation’s capital.

“I had a great time with my colleagues this morning and really learning from each other and following best practices that Republican or Democratic governors have released in their states,” he said. “That’s really what these meetings are about.”

This incident highlights Trump’s confrontational approach toward leaders of countries he does not like during his second term. He has at times threatened to withhold federal funds or send troops over the objections of local leaders. Now, even the celebratory dinner at the White House has become a flashpoint, and his fellow Republicans are openly admitting that Trump’s goal as president is not to unite the country.

“He’s not thinking about it,” Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said at an event sponsored by Politico. “He made it very clear that this is not who he is.”

Read more: Trump attacked this GOP governor while claiming that Democrats always participate in the annual meeting

In an interview on Wednesday, Moore said he “did not want to quarrel with the president of the United States.”

“Not running for governor, I can’t wait until the president and I can get closer,” said Moore, the NGA’s vice president. “But the fact that he wakes up in the middle of the night and tweets about me, I just pray for him and feel bad for him because that must be a very difficult life.”

Governors try to stay above the partisan fighting

These dynamics are a far cry from the atmosphere of bipartisanship that Moore and Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican who chairs the NGA, sought to portray when governors began meeting in Washington. Moore and Stitt shared the stage several times this week, exchanging jokes and compliments.

“I’ve gotten, through the National Governors Association, a really good opportunity to get to know this guy’s heart and what a great American he is, loves his country, loves his fellow citizens and just tries to do the best he can for Maryland,” Stitt said Thursday at a Politico event.

After Stitt tried to resolve the crisis between the White House and Democratic governors last week, Trump criticized him, calling him a “RINO,” short for “Republican in Name Only,” and accusing him of distorting his position. Stitt spoke in a conciliatory tone Thursday, indicating that he would participate in White House events.

“Politics has a way of getting the better of you over time, so I can’t imagine being president of the United States,” Stitt said. “He has a tough job to do.”

Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican who has sometimes disagreed with Trump, said it was a “mistake” for the White House not to include all state governors.

“There’s never been a ton of real work done, but it’s been good every year to get all the governors — Republicans and Democrats — together,” he said in an interview. “I know there’s a lot of disagreement, but it seems like it’s in everyone’s best interest. Even if you disagree vehemently and don’t like the other person or are angry about anything, it wouldn’t hurt to be in the same room together.”

Beyond the White House meeting, some state governors also shared sharp criticism of the administration’s ever-increasing power. They bemoaned the Republican-controlled Congress’ unwillingness to curb Trump’s ambitions, and presented themselves as a counterweight to executive power.

“Presidents are not supposed to do these things,” Cox said. “Congress needs to get its act together. Stop performing for TikTok and start actually doing things. This is the dysfunction we’re dealing with now.”

“It’s up to the states to hold the line,” Cox added.

The presidential fanfare is taking place alongside the convention

As state governors moved between panels and interviews, there was one question looming: Which of them might seek the presidency in 2028?

Moore and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro were among potential Democratic presidential contenders in Washington this week. Other democrats, including governments. Gavin Newsom of California and J.B. Pritzker of Illinois were not in town.

During a panel discussion, Stitt and Moore declined to rule out a future bid and emphasized their focus on their home states.

Gov. Andy Beshear, Democrat of Kentucky, has taken a more open approach. He arrived in Washington days after announcing he would release a book this fall, and answered questions at an event held by the Center for American Progress about how he would campaign for president if he entered the race.

Asked afterward about the timeline for a decision, Beshear said his focus this year remains on Kentucky and “after that, I’ll sit down with my family and we’ll look at it.”