Governor Wes Moore of Maryland has spoken out after it was reported that the Trump administration removed him from the guest list for a National Governors Association (NGA) dinner, a traditionally bipartisan event.
Expressing his views on Sunday, Moore labeled the action as a clear act of disrespect, asserting that it contradicts the essence of cooperation expected between state governors and federal officials.
He emphasized that the situation is particularly significant given that he is currently the only Black governor in the United States, as reported by WUSA9.
"Being the lone Black governor in the nation, I cannot overlook that being targeted for exclusion from this bipartisan gathering carries a deeper meaning — irrespective of whether that was the intended outcome," Moore stated.
The governor conveyed his confusion over the decision, especially since he has been collaborating with the Trump administration on important matters like reducing energy expenses.
Currently serving as vice chair of the NGA's executive committee alongside Oklahoma's Republican Governor Kevin Stitt, who serves as chair, Moore noted that the committee is intended to be bipartisan, comprising four Republicans and five Democrats.
Reports indicated that Colorado's Democratic Governor Jared Polis was also uninvited. In contrast, 22 other Democratic governors, including several vocal critics of President Trump, reportedly remained invited to the event.
The decision has sparked backlash from within the NGA. Brandon Tatum, the CEO, remarked that excluding individual governors diminishes the organization's ability to serve as a liaison between the states and the federal government.
"Disinviting certain governors to White House discussions compromises a vital opportunity for collaboration between federal and state levels," Tatum stated.
The NGA has been in existence since 1908, established during Theodore Roosevelt's presidency, and is recognized as a longstanding bipartisan platform for U.S. governors.
As of now, the White House has not provided a public explanation for the alleged uninvitation.
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