A Democratic governor, considering a potential presidential bid, has decided to boycott an upcoming White House dinner hosted by Donald Trump. This decision comes in response to the exclusion of the nation’s only Black governor from the event.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear announced he would not attend the 2026 National Governors Association (NGA) dinner, citing President Trump’s decision to leave out Maryland Governor Wes Moore.
Governor Moore, distinguished as the first Black governor of Maryland and currently the only Black governor in the United States, was notably one of two governors omitted from the guest list for the February 20 meeting.
While all Democratic governors were extended invitations for the extravagant dinner, Colorado Governor Jared Polis and Governor Moore were conspicuously excluded. President Trump reportedly labeled Moore as “foul-mouthed.”
In a pointed message on Truth Social, President Trump dismissed speculation that the event was exclusively for Republican governors, maintaining the dinner’s traditionally bipartisan nature.
Nonetheless, President Trump stood by his choice to exclude both Polis and Moore, stating they “are not worthy of being there.”
After learning Moore was snubbed from attending the event, Beshear, who spoke about the controversy with Jake Tapper on CNN Sunday morning, decided he would stand by his fellow governor and miss Trump’s dinner.
‘Nearly everything Trump touches, he destroys’, the 48-year-old told Al Sharpton on MS Now on Saturday, adding that racism might have played a role in his choice to leave Moore out.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said he is boycotting the 2026 National Governors Association (NGA) dinner at the White House because President Donald Trump did not invite Maryland Governor Wes Moore, the US’s only black governor
In a damning post to Truth Social, the commander-in-chief shut down rumors that he was only inviting Republicans to the traditionally bipartisan gathering, while also making it clear that Moore and Colorado Governor Jared Polis were not welcome
‘He has taken an annual bipartisan tradition, and he’s turned it into his own 12-year-old birthday party, where he’s going to invite some people and not invite others. “Everybody but Billy is invited”,’ he added.
The Democrat went on to focus on Moore being the sole black governor in America.
‘And the idea that he wouldn’t invite Wes Moore, who is our nation’s only black governor, in the same set of days that he put out that video of the Obamas the way he did, just speaks volumes,’ he said, referring to the shocking meme Trump reposted earlier this month.
The clip showed the faces of former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama superimposed on ape bodies.
Such imagery has long held racist overtones and sparked bipartisan condemnation. The post was later deleted by Trump.
Beshear continued: ‘Wed Moore is a friend of mine. I certainly ain’t going if he’s not invited.’
He also told Sharpton that Trump’s ‘pettiness knows no bounds.’
After hearing he was not invited to the dinner, Moore shrugged off Trump’s decision.
Moore shrugged off Trump’s decision after hearing he was uninvited to the event
‘Well I can’t speak to the president’s heart, I can speak to his actions,’ Moore told CBS News.
‘And I do want to be clear to the president, respectfully, you do not determine my worthiness. God determines my worthiness. The people of Maryland determine my worthiness. They are who I answer to, not him.
‘And I have been very clear with the people of my state that I will work with anyone, but I will bow down to no one. And i think the president has a problem with that,’ Moore said, adding that if the meeting is set to be full of ‘name-calling,’ he’s more than happy to skip it.
‘If the point of the meeting is to turn it into name-calling, or to follow what he did in his most recent tweet, which is full of lies and it’s ignorant, and it’s unhinged. If the point of the meeting is that, then my answer to the president is very clear, nah I’m good,’ he stated.
In his lengthy Truth Social post, Trump referred to Moore as ‘the foul mouthed Governor of Maryland, who fraudulently stated that he received Military medals, A LIE, is doing a terrible job on the rebuilding of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, and has allowed Baltimore to continue to be a Crime Disaster.’
In his lengthy Truth Social post, Trump referred to Moore as ‘the foul mouthed Governor of Maryland’
He also called out Polis for ‘unfairly’ placing a ’73-year-old cancer stricken woman’ in solitary confinement and ‘attempting to fight Democrat Voter Fraud.’
The president further mentioned that he even decided to invite the ‘SLOB’ Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and ‘horrendous’ California Governor Gavin Newsom – two Democratic leaders Trump has publicly feuded with.
He ended his post with: ‘I look forward to seeing the Republican Governors, and some of the Democrats Governors who were worthy of being invited, but most of whom won’t show up.’
The Daily Mail contacted Moore, Beshear, and Trump’s teams for comment.
