Maryland Gov. Wes Moore says the White House is freezing him out — and if you ask him, it’s no mistake. 

The Democrat, the nation’s only Black governor and vice chair of the National Governors Association (NGA), says he’s been excluded from two traditionally bipartisan events for governors in Washington later this month.

According to Politico, the NGA is set to meet in D.C. Feb. 19–21 for its annual gathering, which includes a dinner with the president. The dinner has long been seen as a chance for leaders of red and blue states to engage with one another more directly and even more casually. 

However, Moore shared that not only have all democrats been excluded from the White House meeting, but he and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis were also disinvited from a special “governors-and-spouses” dinner. That Mooroe is the only Black governor in the country is also a major deal, considering the importance of his role as NGA Chair.

"My peers, both Democrats and Republicans, selected me to serve as the Vice Chair of the NGA, another reason why it's hard not to see this decision as another example of blatant disrespect and a snub to the spirit of bipartisan federal-state partnership," Moore stated, according to CBS. "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."

The Trump administration’s move marks a sharp break with how presidents have usually handled the NGA, which said in an email obtained by Politico that the White House gathering will no longer be an official association event. 

“No NGA resources will be used” to support it, the group told members, while Moore said, "We know that in this time, the president cannot use this time to divide our organization."

Tensions between Moore and Trump were already high. They’ve clashed over Baltimore crime and federal funding to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which collapsed in 2024, with Trump calling the city a “hellhole” and blasting Moore on Truth Social. “I will work with anybody but will bow down to nobody,” Moore said, adding, “I guess the President doesn’t like that.”

The break from tradition also comes amid a slew of missteps involving the Trump administration and race. Last week, when the President posted a video of former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle, depicting them as apes, a dehumanizing and all-too-familiar gesture, that mirrors America’s racist history. 

Regarding Moore’s disinvitation, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt defended the decision, saying in a statement: “These are White House events and the president can invite whomever he wants.”