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WASHINGTON — <\/span>An annual meeting of the nation\u2019s governors that has long served as a rare bipartisan gathering is unraveling after President Donald Trump excluded Democratic governors from White House events.<\/p>\n The National Governors Association said it will no longer hold a formal meeting with Trump when governors are scheduled to convene in Washington later this month, after the White House planned to invite only Republican governors. On Tuesday, 18 Democratic governors also announced they would boycott a traditional dinner at the White House.<\/p>\n \u201cIf 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,\u201d the group wrote. \u201cDemocratic governors remain united and will never stop fighting to protect and make life better for people in our states.\u201d<\/p>\n Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican and the chairman of the NGA, said in a letter Monday to fellow governors obtained by The Associated Press that the White House intends to limit invitations to the association\u2019s annual business meeting, scheduled for February 20, to Republican governors only.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause NGA\u2019s mission is to represent all 55 governors, the Association is no longer serving as the facilitator for that event, and it is no longer included in our official program,\u201d Stitt wrote.<\/p>\n The NGA is scheduled to meet in Washington from Feb. 19-21. Representatives for Stitt, the White House and the NGA didn’t immediately comment on the letter.<\/p>\n Brandon Tatum, the NGA’s CEO, said in a statement last week that the White House meeting is an \u201cimportant tradition\u201d and said the organization was \u201cdisappointed in the administration’s decision to make it a partisan occasion this year.\u201d <\/p>\n The governors group is one of the few remaining venues where political leaders from both major parties gather to discuss the top issues facing their communities. In his letter, Stitt encouraged governors to unite around common goals.<\/p>\n \u201cWe cannot allow one divisive action to achieve its goal of dividing us,\u201d he wrote. \u201cThe solution is not to respond in kind, but to rise above and to remain focused on our shared duty to the people we serve. America\u2019s governors have always been models of pragmatic leadership, and that example is most important when Washington grows distracted by politics.\u201d<\/p>\n Signs of partisan tensions emerged at the White House meeting last year<\/a>, when Trump and Maine’s Gov. Janet Mills<\/a> traded barbs.<\/p>\n Trump singled out the Democratic governor over his push to bar transgender athletes from competing in girls\u2019 and women\u2019s sports, threatening to withhold federal funding from the state if she did not comply. Mills responded, \u201cWe\u2019ll see you in court.\u201d<\/p>\n Trump then predicted that Mills\u2019 political career would be over for opposing the order. She is now running for U.S. Senate.<\/p>\n The back and forth had a lasting impact on last year\u2019s conference and some Democratic governors did not renew their dues last year to the bipartisan group.<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n Peoples reported from New York. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n