U.S. President Donald Trump has agreed to meet with all governors, regardless of party affiliation, at an annual White House event next week, media reported on February 11 (local time).

The news comes after President Trump initially faced strong criticism for excluding Democratic governors from the meeting, prompting a change of stance.

The White House meeting will take place as part of a three-day summit in Washington D.C. from February 19 to 21. The meeting and subsequent dinner are scheduled for February 20.

This change in position reportedly followed a phone call between the president and Kevin Stitt, the governor of Oklahoma and chairman of the National Governors Association (NGA), earlier in the day. The NGA had announced it was withdrawing its meeting plans in protest after President Trump excluded Democratic governors from the invitation list.

"We are pleased the President is inviting the governors of all 55 states and territories to the White House," said Brendan Tatum, CEO of the NGA, in a statement obtained by USA Today. "A bipartisan White House-Governors meeting is a treasured tradition and an important opportunity to strengthen relationships and engage in constructive dialogue." He added, "The NGA looks forward to continued collaboration between the governors and the White House."

However, President Trump criticized Governor Stitt on Truth Social later that day, accusing him of misrepresenting Trump's actions.

He pointed out that Governor Stitt had stated, "The White House was planning on inviting only Republican governors to the annual meeting scheduled for February 20," and declared, "This is not true! I sent invitations to all governors except two."

The individuals Trump felt "didn't qualify to be invited" to the annual governors' dinner were the governor of Colorado and the governor of Maryland.

Regarding Colorado Governor Jared Polis, Trump cited that he "unjustly jailed a 73-year-old cancer patient woman who was trying to fight against Democrat voter fraud," referring to the current incarceration of Tina Peters.

Additionally, for Maryland Governor Wes Moore, the reason for not being invited was that he "lied about receiving a military medal, bungled the Francis Scott Key Bridge reconstruction project, and allowed Baltimore to become a crime-ridden hotbed."

President Trump stated, "I have even invited Governor JB Pritzker of Illinois, who is incompetent, and Governor Gavin Newsom of California, who is terrible, to the dinner, even though they are doing a terrible job! So Stitt is wrong, as usual! Invitations have been sent to all other governors, both Democrats and Republicans. I look forward to meeting with Republican governors and Democratic governors who qualify to be invited. However, most will not be attending."

It was not immediately confirmed whether Democratic governors would withdraw their boycott of the White House dinner, JustTheNews reported.

By Sung Ku Hong, Chief Reporter / Special Correspondent for this paper NNP info@newsandpost.com