‘Not surprising’: Trump-Stitt tiff teases #Governor2026 battle lines

After accusing Gov. Kevin Stitt of misrepresenting a White House dinner invitation and branding him a “RINO,” President Donald Trump unleashed a social media barrage that drew reactions from Oklahoma gubernatorial candidates this week.

The New York Times first reported Feb. 6 that the president did not want to invite Democratic governors to an annual White House business meeting. Stitt, who was elected chairman of the National Governors Association in July, explained to governors Monday why the association pulled the Feb. 20 meeting from its winter agenda.

“NGA staff was informed that the White House intends to limit invitations to the annual business meeting, scheduled for Feb. 20, to Republican governors only,” Stitt’s letter said. “Because NGA’s mission is to represent all 55 governors, the association is no longer serving as the facilitator for that event, and it is no longer included in our official program. At this time, I am not aware of a governor who has received an invitation, and it remains unclear whether the president still plans to host the meeting.”

'Not surprising': Trump-Stitt tiff teases #Governor2026 battle lines