WASHINGTON (AP) — The National Governors Association says governors from both parties will be able to meet with President Donald Trump later this month after the White House initially extended business meeting invitations only to Republicans.
“We are pleased that the president is welcoming governors from all 55 states and territories to the White House,” Brandon Tatum, the organization’s chief executive, said Wednesday.
It’s unclear whether each governor will attend the full White House event. Trump initially planned to invite only Republicans to the business meeting, ahead of the governors’ annual gathering in Washington later this month. That prompted an outcry from dozens of Democrats, who said they would boycott the dinner at the White House if they did not fully attend the business meeting.
“If reports are true that not all governors are invited to these events, which have historically been productive bipartisanship opportunities, we will not be attending the White House dinner this year,” Democrats said.
The dispute threatens to upend one of the rare bipartisan gatherings in Washington for a long time.
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican who chairs the NGA, told other governors on Wednesday that all would be invited to the meeting, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity. The news came after Stitt had conversations with the White House, the person said.
The White House had no immediate comment on the meeting. On Tuesday, White House press secretary Carolyn Leavitt said Trump “has the discretion to invite anyone he wants into the White House.”
“This is the people’s house,” she said. “It’s also the president’s home, so he can invite anyone he wants to the White House for dinners and events.”
