Expect 'drama' at White House governors event — even with Democrats bailing

Last year, President Donald Trump had a very public confrontation with Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) at the governors' meeting at the White House when the state leader told the president "see you in court."

While many Democrats bailed on the events, that doesn't mean there won't be drama.

The events began Friday morning with the "working breakfast" at the White House where the press was ushered out of the room quickly, shielding any conflicts that may have unfolded between Trump and the governors.

There's a good reason for it. Republican governors are growing increasingly miffed with Trump over a variety of issues.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R), one of Trump's early and longtime supporters, began vocalizing his annoyance last year when he said that he would be furious if the president sent the National Guard to his state. The National Governors Association chair denounced deploying the soldiers under "states rights" rules.

“Oklahomans would lose their mind if Pritzker in Illinois sent troops down to Oklahoma during the Biden administration," he told The New York Times in October.

It's only grown worse from there.

Writing for USA Today, congressional reporter Zachary Schermele wrote that he expected "drama."

The men have already clashed over the event after Trump blocked two Democrats from attending the NGA events over the weekend. Trump was so furious, he took to Truth Social to rant.

"As usual with him, Stitt got it WRONG!" Trump wrote. The president also swore he still wouldn't allow Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis to the White House.

Former Montana Gov. Steve Bullock (D), a previous NGA chairman, said he knew things had changed when he saw the video of Mills last year.

"That's not how these business meetings ever operated," he told Schermele.

Bullock explained that during Trump's first term, the two may have disagreed, but they were capable of being cordial to each other.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) told Schermele that when she was governor of the state, the purpose of the meetings was not to "pick on" or single out states but to "discuss the real issues of federalism."

"When I was governor, I valued being able to compare notes with Republican colleagues on how we could make government work better for our constituents, even when we had philosophical disagreements," she said in a statement to USA Today.

Moore doesn't expect Trump's issues with him to prevent him from working with other governors.

"We will continue all the traditions of being able to make sure that we're spending time together, getting to know each other, Republicans and Democrats," he said.

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