Nearly two dozen Democratic governors, including Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, announced a boycott of a White House dinner hosted by President Donald Trump during the National Governors Association’s February 19-21, 2026, gathering in Washington, D.C., after Trump disinvited Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (NGA vice chair) and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis. The 18 governors issued a joint statement criticizing the move as fostering “chaos and division,” vowing not to attend if the event deviates from its bipartisan tradition. In response, the NGA canceled its formal meeting with the president, highlighting escalating tensions between Democratic state leaders and the administration.
