Trump tangles with governors ahead of White House meeting

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MORNING REPORT  MORNING REPORT Friday, February 20 | By Jared Gans View Online  |  Sign up  PRESENTED BY Listen and Subscribe: In today's issue: ▪ Trump meeting with governors ▪ Country on edge over possible Iran strikes ▪ Advocates celebrate former prince's arrest ▪ Harris rising in 2028 polling © The Associated Press | Mark Schiefelbein Trump tangles with governors ahead of White House meeting President Trump will host governors from across the country Friday amid heightened tensions with various Democratic leaders and broad confusion over who would be invited to the gathering. The National Governors Association (NGA), a bipartisan organization bringing together governors from all 50 states and five territories, meets with the president annually during its conference in Washington, D.C. But the conference has been thrown into flux for weeks over Trump's refusal to invite two Democratic governors — Wes Moore of Maryland and Jared Polis of Colorado. The gathering will still feature a business breakfast at the White House, scheduled for Friday, and a dinner scheduled for Saturday, but the bipartisan group will not formally back the events. An NGA spokesperson said the organization won't facilitate the meetings as it has in past years because of the exclusion of Moore and Polis, The Hill's Sarah Fortinsky reports. The president has changed course on several occasions in the weeks leading up to the conference regarding who is invited, leaving some uncertainty about who will attend which event. The controversy began after Trump initially only invited Republican governors to the meeting at the White House, excluding the Democrats. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R), who chairs the NGA, announced the organization would cancel the White House meeting to prevent dividing the association. He later said Trump backed down after they spoke, and the governor attributed the apparent snub to a "misunderstanding in scheduling." But Trump later slammed Stitt as a "RINO" for canceling the meeting and claimed that all governors had been invited except Moore and Polis, who he said were not "worthy of being there." That added to the confusion about who exactly had been invited and who would attend. Moore said last week during a town hall with CBS that he would not attend. "I will not go. Absolutely not," he said. The NGA ultimately decided against endorsing the meeting with the president. "The White House will still be holding their meetings this week, but they have decided to not include all Governors. We have been consistent that the National Governors Association cannot participate in a meeting that does not welcome all governors," NGA CEO Brandon Tatum said in a statement. "After briefly moving in the right direction last week, the White House IGA staff informed us through multiple phone calls that they have decided to depart from this longstanding tradition," Tatum continued. "The NGA stands for all governors, and we cannot facilitate a White House meeting that excludes." The dispute is the latest instance of tensions rising between the president and various Democratic governors, many of whom are seen as rising stars in the party and potential contenders for the 2028 presidential election. California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), who has taken on the role of chief antagonist to Trump and is seen as among early front-runners for the Democratic nomination, said last week he wouldn't attend. He said the White House "obviously flip-flopped" on whether to invite Democrats. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, who chairs the Democratic Governors Association, led a group of 18 Democratic governors who said they wouldn't attend the White House meeting if all governors weren't invited. "It's just a lot of drama. And it's unnecessary," he told CNN on Sunday. Others included in that group are Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who serves as the DGA's vice chair, as well as Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro. Polis has said he would attend the conference but didn't say if he would attend the White House meeting. All of them have also been rumored 2028 contenders. The clash comes as Trump has increasingly been facing off with Democratic governors during his second term. Attention has centered on Minnesota for the past several months as Trump and Gov. Tim Walz (D), who was the Democratic vice-presidential nominee in 2024, traded barbs at each other over the administration's immigration policy. The president has gone back and forth with Polis over the prosecution of former elections clerk Tina Peters in Colorado, with the governor resisting the president's calls to release her. And he's insulted Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) amid a feud between them over Trump's deployment of the National Guard in Chicago. Most recently, he's battled with Moore over the wastewater spill into the Potomac River, with each accusing the other of being responsible for it. The rifts underscore the tensions between the White House and Democratic governors, and the battle lines between the Trump administration and various states that are expected to only deepen. ▪ The Hill: Trump attacks on Dems cast shadow on meeting. Sarah Fortinsky contributed reporting. Smart Take  with Blake Burman Governors are descending upon D.C. for the National Governors Association's winter meeting. For Maryland's Wes Moore, it's a short drive. It's also been a long few days, as he's been in a back-and-forth with the White House over a sewage spill in the Potomac River.  I asked the governor how he feels about the balance between working with the White House and pushing back. "My obligation, and what I've always told the people in my state, is that I will work with anybody," Moore told me. "But I won't bow to anybody, and I think what is happening is whenever I see attacks on our state, whenever I see attacks on our people, that I'm a soldier by training. I'm going to defend my people." Moore, who's often discussed as a possible 2028 candidate, is positioning himself as someone who's willing to take on a fight when needed. When asked about state politics as well on Thursday, he declared, "I don't answer to the Democratic Party." Burman hosts "The Hill" weeknights, 6p/5c on NewsNation. 3 Things to Know Today Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger will deliver the Democratic response to Trump's State of the Union speech next week. The first female governor of Virginia, Spanberger is seen as a rising star within the party. Trump said he will direct the Pentagon and other departments to release its files about UFOs and "alien and extraterrestrial life" given the "tremendous interest shown" by the public. The Supreme Court is releasing their latest opinions at 10 a.m. Political observers will be watching today and next week for any decision on Trump's tariff authority. LEADING THE DAY © The Associated Press | U.S. Navy COUNTRY ON EDGE: Washington, D.C., is bracing for the possibility of military strikes on Iran as soon as this weekend even as negotiations continue over the Middle Eastern country's nuclear program. Multiple outlets reported Wednesday that Trump may order a strike on Iran as soon as this weekend, though no decision had been made yet. Military assets have been added to the region, and Trump gave Iran a 10-day deadline Thursday to reach an agreement or risk an attack. But The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that Trump is considering an initial limited military strike on Iran to try to force it to agree to his demands on a nuclear deal. Tehran is expected to provide a written proposal for addressing the U.S.'s concerns and resolving the standoff, The Hill's Laura Kelly reports. Iran held military drills with Russia on Thursday amid the escalating tensions, conducting exercises in the Gulf of Oman and Indian Ocean. Meanwhile, Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) plan to force a vote on a war powers resolution next week to require Trump to receive authorization from Congress before attacking Iran. The vote could be close in a narrowly divided House. ▪ The Hill: Iran strikes 'likely' as Trump seeks leverage. MAJOR ARREST: Lawmakers are touting the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, in the United Kingdom as a major step forward in gaining justice for the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's actions. Epstein survivors and advocates for the release of the Epstein files got their biggest victory in years Thursday when the former prince was arrested on suspicion of misconduct while in public office. Documents released by the Department of Justice (DOJ) show Andrew allegedly shared confidential information with Epstein while serving as the U.K.'s special representative for trade and investment. He held that role throughout the 2000s. While the arrest only concerns allegations regarding his time in public office and not any accusations from alleged victims, the investigation into him is reportedly more wide-ranging and not constrained to only what led to him being detained Thursday. Andrew has most prominently been accused of sexual misconduct by the late Virginia Giuffre, who alleged he had sex with her years ago and that she was trafficked by Epstein. Andrew has denied those accusations against him. He was released later Thursday under investigation and returned to his home. Members of Congress who have been major advocates for the release of the Epstein files applauded the arrest. Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), the ranking member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, called the arrest an "enormous step forward." "Now it's time for the United States to end this White House cover-up," Garcia said in a statement. "President Trump and his Epstein Administration are not above the law." Massie, who led the push for the files' release along Khanna, said in a post on the social platform X that arrests were the metric he established for the success of the Epstein Files Transparency Act. "Now we need JUSTICE in the United States," he said, calling on Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel to act. The arrest of the former prince is the first in the ongoing saga over the files, as he became the first person arrested over allegations related to Epstein since the convicted sex offender himself and his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell. While many high-profile figures named in the files have stepped back from public roles over their past ties to Epstein, Andrew is the first to be facing criminal charges. Democrats are signaling they are looking ahead to push for greater accountability. "If a Prince can be held accountable, so can a President," Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) wrote on X. ▪ The Hill: Takeaways from Andrew's arrest. ▪ The Hill: Trump calls Andrew's arrest 'very sad.' TRUMP BANNER: A banner with a large image of the president has been unfurled at the DOJ, a further break with norms of distance between the department and the White House. Under the photo reads the slogan, "Make America Safe Again." Federal office buildings often feature a portrait of the current president, but a large poster on the facade is unusual. It's not the first time a Trump banner has been unveiled in front of a Cabinet-level department building. Banners featuring Trump were hung outside the departments of Agriculture and Labor last year. The banner at the DOJ building drew condemnations from Democrats, who compared it to what would happen in North Korea and accused Trump of further involvement in the traditionally independent DOJ. Newsom's office posted a photo of portraits showing former North Korean leaders Kim Il-Sung and Kim Jong-Il outside government buildings. New Mexico Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D) called the banner ironic. "The irony of a twice-impeached, convicted felon putting his own picture on the wall of the Department of Justice. President Trump is weaponizing the DOJ as his own personal law firm," he said in a post on X. PLEDGE: Trump announced the U.S. is pledging $10 billion to the Board of Peace at its first meeting Thursday, adding to the total to reconstruct Gaza. The president held the meeting at the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington, D.C., with leaders from more than 20 countries in attendance. He said $7 billion has been raised as part of a relief package for Gaza from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan and Kuwait. But the board faces hurdles as many more countries that have been invited to join, including much of Europe, have declined over the language of the charter. Critics have taken issue that the board could be set up as a rival to the United Nations. A key question also remains in Gaza as to whether Hamas will give up power and disarm as stipulated under the ceasefire deal with Israel. ▪ The Hill: Five takeaways from the board's launch. BALLROOM APPROVAL: A federal arts panel entirely appointed by Trump has approved his plan to construct a new 90,000-square-foot ballroom on the East Wing of the White House. The plan received approval from six of the seven members of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts. The project's initial architect, Commissioner James McCrery, abstained. The decision from Trump's handpicked members came as no surprise. But the project, set to be funded by $400 million in private donations, has come under intense scrutiny from critics who see it as a personal project damaging the legacy of a historic building. It is slated for completion by 2028. WHEN & WHERE The president will participate in a working breakfast with governors at 9:30 a.m. He will participate in a private meeting at 10:30 a.m. The House will convene at 11:30 a.m. for a pro forma session. The Senate is out today. The next personal consumption expenditures report, a key measure of inflation, is set to be released at 8:30 a.m. CONTENT FROM OUR SPONSOR A Modern Rail Network for America The Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern combination removes interchange handoffs that can add 24-48 hours to cross-country shipments. Faster shipping. Lower costs. A stronger U.S. economy. Get the facts. ZOOM IN © The Associated Press | Tyler Kaufman HARRIS RISING: Former Vice President Kamala Harris has started leading some early polls of the rumored 2028 Democratic primary field, a possible sign of her staying power in Democratic circles even after her loss in 2024. Newsom has largely been the early favorite in many of the polls of the past year, followed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.). But multiple recent polls have placed Harris at the top ahead of Newsom. This illustrates the conflict facing Democrats: deciding which parts of their messaging and leadership to overhaul and which parts to leave intact, The Hill's Amie Parnes reports. Some Democrats told Parnes they believe Harris deserves a spot as a top contender for the nomination, arguing she nearly won the election after a late transition to become the Democratic nominee following former President Biden's withdrawal from the race. But others maintained the party isn't likely to turn to a candidate who lost every swing state, as it's going to be desperate for a win at the end of Trump's second term. Harris hasn't publicly stated if she is considering another White House run, but she has privately told allies she's keeping her options open. She is currently in the midst of a months-long book tour across the country and recently launched a rebrand of her social media accounts. ▪ The New York Times: Harris sold email list to Democratic National Committee. ▪ Axios: Former top Harris aide leading Mobile Vote Project. ELSEWHERE © The Associated Press | Seth Wenig MAMDANI'S SHIFT: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) said Thursday he will resume homeless encampment sweeps after having paused the policy upon taking office last month. Mamdani was critical of the sweeps under his predecessor, former Mayor Eric Adams (D), arguing they haven't sufficiently helped people with housing. But he said the sweeps will now use new methods that will be more successful. The city's homeless services department will oversee the sweeps and will use continued engagement with the people affected throughout the process. "We will meet them looking to connect them with shelter, looking to them with services, looking to connect them with a city that wants them to be sheltered and indoors and warm and safe. And that is something that I believe will yield far better results," Mamdani said during a press conference. The mayor's office said the city would first post a notice of a clearing and then send outreach workers to the encampment every day to guide people into social services. Mamdani made housing a key pillar of his mayoral campaign last year but is now settling into governing the country's largest city, which holds its largest homeless population. He has kept to the policies he ran on but is also facing some of the realities of governing as he tries to manage a budget deficit. The eyes of the country are on the democratic socialist as it waits to see whether he creates a positive or negative reputation for other progressives seeking to follow in his footsteps. ▪ Gothamist: Mamdani sounds alarm on budget. ▪ FOX5 NY: Mamdani reverses Adams's decision to add more officers to NYPD. OPINION Trade wars are shrinking my bar, one bottle at a time, Lynnette Marrero writes in The Hill. That's the end of the British monarchy, I'm sorry to say, Tim Stanley writes in The Washington Post. THE CLOSER © The Associated Press | Angelina Katsanis And finally … 👏👏👏 Congrats to this week's Morning Report quiz winners! They kept up with what was another busy week in Washington, D.C., and around the world. Here's who went 4/4: Richard Baznik, Chuck Schoenenberger, Joe Atchue, Tom Chabot, Rick Schmidtke, Carmine Petracca, James Horan, Linda Field, Bob DiMaggio, Peter Sprofera, Pam Manges, Sari Wisch, Mark Williamson, William Earl, Jess Elger, Michael Palermo, Jenessa Wagner, Linda Kavalsky, M. Whitehouse, Neil Bergsman, Harry Strulovici, Michael B. Kitz, William Chittam, Geoff Bartenhagen, Melissa McBurney, Dennis Barksdale, Kalae Kong, Arturo Jessel, Steve Comer, Terry Pflaumer, Michael Salanik, Elizabeth Prystas, Steve James and Savannah Petracca. U.S. officials traveled to Geneva, Switzerland, for talks on Iran's nuclear program and the Russia-Ukraine war. They had gone to Oman for the previous round of talks. Secretary of State Marco Rubio endorsed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for reelection ahead of his country's elections in April. Trump has also thrown his support behind his longtime ally. Texas Senate hopeful James Talarico's appearance on ABC's "The View" sparked controversies around the Federal Communication Commission's (FCC) equal time rule. The FCC is reportedly investigating the show over the interview. Former President Obama clarified comments he made on a podcast to say that he hasn't seen any evidence that aliens exist, saying he only believes they likely exist because of the vastness of the universe. Stay Engaged We want to hear from you! Email me here and suggest this newsletter to friends! Privacy Policy   |   View in Browser   |   Manage Subscriptions Sign Up for Other Newsletters   |   Unsubscribe   400 N Capitol Street NW Suite 650, Washington, DC 20001 Copyright © 1998 - 2026 Nexstar Media Inc.   |   All Rights Reserved