Maryland Governor Wes Moore is sharply criticizing the Trump White House after he was reportedly uninvited from a National Governors Association dinner, a longstanding bipartisan tradition that typically brings together the nation’s state leaders and the president.

Moore, a Democrat and vice chair of the NGA’s executive committee, said the move represents more than a simple scheduling change. In a written statement, he called the decision “blatant disrespect” and argued it undercuts the very purpose of the gathering, which is meant to foster cooperation between governors and the federal government regardless of party.

The governor underscored the personal and symbolic weight of the decision, noting that he is currently the only Black governor in the country. “As the nation’s only Black governor, I can’t ignore that being singled out for exclusion from this bipartisan tradition carries an added weight — whether that was the intent or not,” Moore wrote, adding that the episode raises troubling questions about who is welcome at the table of national leadership.

Moore also expressed confusion, pointing out that his administration has been actively working with Trump officials on shared priorities, including efforts to lower energy costs for Maryland residents. That ongoing collaboration, he suggested, makes the reported snub even more puzzling and counterproductive.

The National Governors Association, founded in 1908 and long viewed as a rare bipartisan space in American politics, is led by a nine-member executive committee composed of both Republicans and Democrats. Moore serves alongside Republican chair Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma, reflecting the group’s emphasis on cross-party problem-solving.

Reports indicate that Colorado Governor Jared Polis, another Democrat, was also removed from the guest list, even as 22 other Democratic governors — including some of Trump’s most vocal critics — remained invited. The selective nature of the exclusions has fueled speculation that the decisions were political, though the White House has not offered a public explanation.

Inside the NGA, the move has sparked concern about the erosion of a key channel for dialogue. Brandon Tatum, the association’s chief executive officer, warned that disinviting individual governors from White House sessions “undermines an important opportunity for federal-state collaboration” and weakens the NGA’s role as a neutral convener.

For now, Moore says he will continue to engage with federal partners where possible, but he is urging the administration to restore the inclusive, bipartisan norms that have defined the governors’ gathering for more than a century.