‘A Farce’: Healey to skip White House meeting after Trump excludes Democratic governors

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey will skip events at the White House on Friday and Saturday after attacks by President Donald Trump cast a shadow over those events

State governors from across the country are set to gather in the nation's capital this weekend for the National Governors Association meeting.

Republican Trump immediately caused a furor when he initially announced that he planned to only invite Republican governors to the traditionally bipartisan working meeting and dinner at the White House.

He later backtracked, saying that all Democratic governors, except for Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, would be shunned.

In a statement, Healey, a Democrat, said Trump had turned the weekend into a "farce" and continues to "act in a manner that's beneath the dignity of the office of the president of the United States."

"He doesn't want to work together. He's afraid to hear the truth about the damage he's doing to our economy, how he's making life harder and more expensive, the dangerous and unlawful tactics of ICE, his tariffs that are driving up costs for everyone, and his cuts to health care," Healey said.

Nor does Trump "want to hear about how he's hurting American competitiveness by defunding science and research, or how he's driving away foreign partners and investment while countries like China look to lap us in technology, AI and energy production," Healey continued.

Healey's comments came even as the National Governors Association announced it was pulling out of the White House events after Trump snubbed Polis and Moore, The Associated Press reported .

In a brief interview on Thursday, Polis said he does not have "any ability to get in (Trump's) head." Polis said he was nonetheless meeting with governors from both parties while he is in the nation's capital.

"I've spent quality time with my colleagues this morning and really learning from one another and taking best practices that Republican or Democratic governors have launched in their state," he said. "It's really what these meetings are about."

The episode underscores the confrontational approach Trump has taken during his second term toward state leaders he does not like. He has at times threatened to withhold federal money or send in troops over the objections of local leaders.

Now, even a ceremonial White House dinner has become a flashpoint and fellow Republicans openly acknowledge that Trump's aim as president is not to unify the country.

"He's not putting his mind to it," said Gov. Spencer Cox, R-Utah. "He's said very clearly that that's not who he is."

In an interview on Wednesday, Moore said he has "no desire to have beef with the president of the United States."

In her Thursday statement, Healey said the sessions at the White House had always been "an important opportunity for us to discuss the most pressing issues facing our country and how we can work together on solutions."

"But it should come as no surprise to anyone that President Trump has completely politicized this," she said.

Associated Press reports are included in this story.

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