GOV. MAURA HEALEY won’t attend a White House meeting Friday and dinner on Saturday with other governors, citing President Donald Trump’s alleged politicization of the event.
The events have been hosted by the National Governors Association during its winter conference but the group backed out of the meeting this year after Trump declined to invite Democratic governors, per AP reporting.
“For years, Governors of both parties met with Presidents of both parties annually,” Healey said in a statement released after 4 p.m. Thursday. “This has 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. He continues to act in a manner that’s beneath the dignity of the Office of the President of the United States.”
Healey added, “As Governor, I work with people of all parties to get things done. We’ve passed tax cuts, a major housing bill, a jobs bill – all with bipartisan support. But if the President doesn’t want a serious discussion about how we can deliver for the American people, then we aren’t going to waste our time.”
Originally, Trump had only invited Republican governors to the event, sparking Healey and 17 other Democratic governors to announce they would not attend.
“Democratic governors have a long record of working across the aisle to deliver results and we remain committed to this effort. But it’s disappointing this administration doesn’t seem to share the same goal. At every turn, President Trump is creating chaos and division, and it is the American people who are hurting as a result,” the governors said in a February 10 statement. “If the reports are true that not all governors are invited to these events, which have historically been productive and bipartisan opportunities for collaboration, we will not be attending the White House dinner this year. Democratic governors remain united and will never stop fighting to protect and make life better for people in our states.”
Then, Trump extended invitations to all Democratic governors aside from Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, saying in social media posts that they are “not worthy of being there.”
Some Democrats, including Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont and Maine Gov. Janet Mills, both of whom signed the February 10 statement, now plan to attend the White House meeting but not the dinner, per reporting by The Hill. Others, like Hawaii Gov. Josh Green and Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson, will skip the whole weekend.
Healey’s office said Wednesday that the governor will attend the NGA Winter Meeting on Thursday.