Only Black Governor Left Off White House Dinner Guest List

February 9, 2026

Maryland Governor Wes Moore, the nation's only currently serving Black governor, was unexpectedly removed from the guest list for the annual National Governors Association dinner at the White House without explanation. The NGA's interim CEO indicated that the White House administration, not the organization, made the decision to exclude certain governors, prompting the NGA to withdraw its official recognition of the event. Moore publicly expressed concern that his exclusion from this traditionally bipartisan gathering may carry racial undertones, particularly given the timing shortly after President Trump posted and removed a racist video.

Who is affected

Maryland Governor Wes Moore (the nation's only sitting Black governor)
Colorado Governor Jared Polis
The National Governors Association (NGA) as an organization
NGA interim CEO Brandon Tatum
Other Democratic governors (some excluded, others invited despite clashing with Trump)

What action is being taken

The White House is hosting a governors dinner with a selectively edited guest list
The National Governors Association is withdrawing official recognition from the dinner
Governor Moore is publicly speaking out about his exclusion on social media

Why it matters

This matters because it breaks with a decades-long bipartisan tradition designed to foster federal-state collaboration across party lines. The exclusion of the nation's only Black governor without explanation, particularly following the posting of racist content by the president, raises concerns about potential racial discrimination and signals a shift toward increased partisanship in what has historically been a unifying forum for governors from both parties to work together on shared governance challenges.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer