Andy Beshear refuses to attend White House dinner, spars …

Governor Andy Beshear criticizes the politicization of the bipartisan event, emphasizing the need for focus on key issues like affordability and job creation.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Gov. Andy Beshear expressed frustration Sunday with the political drama surrounding the recent White House invitations to Democratic governors, stating that the focus should be on practical issues like job creation, safer communities and healthcare. Beshear appeared on CNN’s State of the Union with Jake Tapper and criticized the White House for turning a traditional, bipartisan annual event into a spectacle, and made his stance clear he won't attend if certain Democratic governors are excluded.

"It's just a lot of drama and it's unnecessary," Beshear told Tapper. "Governors wake up every day focused on getting results — on creating better jobs, safer communities, expanding access to healthcare, and improving public schools. This meeting is an annual bipartisan tradition, yet the president has turned it into drama." His comments come amid confusion over whether all Democratic governors had been invited to the National Governors Association dinner.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, who serves as chair of the NGA, suggested the invitation list was incomplete. Beshear confirmed Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore were among Democratic governors not invited, prompting President Donald Trump to post a message on Truth Social directed at Stitt. "At this point, I'm not going," Beshear added. "If you're not going to invite all the Democratic governors, the chair of the DGA isn't going to be there." Despite his decision to skip the event, Beshear insisted communication between governors and the White House on critical issues is ongoing.

He added Americans care more about results than political drama. Beshear also discussed the midterm elections with specific reference to concerns made by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem regarding voter eligibility and ID requirements. “Kristi Noem’s statements are wild and they are un-American,” Beshear said, voicing his concern of the federal government’s involvement in elections.  The governor warned that any attempt to intimidate voters or undermine democratic processes would backfire, rallying the public to protect the integrity of elections.

He called out recent incidents of the Trump administration gathering personal voter data and imposing stricter voter ID requirements, as attacks on democracy. “If you try to intimidate the American people, especially when it comes to something so foundational as voting, I think you're underestimating them,” he said. “They will step up and protect this country.” Beshear reflected on his role as a governor in an increasingly polarized political environment.

He reiterated his commitment to protecting Kentuckians from federal overreach.  He highlighted victories against the Trump administration including fighting back when they tried to cancel federal funding when it came to creating a warning system in eastern Kentucky for the next time it would flood. "I’ve taken on this Trump administration despite being in a Trump-plus-31 state, and we’ve been winning when they’ve tried to take the personal information of our citizens," Beshear said.

"We stood up to them time and time again." Since funding for DHS lapsed on Saturday causing a partial government shutdown, Tapper asked the governor about the state needing FEMA in the event a national disaster occurred and if he was worried about Senate Democrats blocking funding in this latest standoff.  Beshear called FEMA "incredibly important" and admitted it was working well under Trump. However, he said ICE was out of control and has an "American body count."  "They have two agents that are being Investigated for perjury and their leadership attacks anyone involved in an altercation with ICE as domestic terrorists before they even know the information," he said.  Beshear has called for the removal of ICE agents from every city and community and said the government must stand up for the people.

"Democrats should be using their leverage to try to get reform and retraining," he said.  Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman disagreed and responded on social media following an appearance with FOX News on Sunday. "Federal law enforcement like ICE go after predators and violent offenders. Stopping the collaboration would make Kentucky families less safe," he said before calling Beshear's national appearances as "purely political as he looks for a national audience." When it comes to a potential White House run in 2028, Beshear didn’t shy away from speculation but was asked if Democratic messaging to voters – particularly in red states – was too “soft-spoken.” “The message is working,” he said, pointing to recent Democratic victories in tough gubernatorial races like Abigail Spanberger of Virginia and Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey.

He says Americans want leadership focused on their everyday needs like having enough money to afford groceries, to take their kids on vacation, being able to afford their first home and feeling safe in their communities. “Those are the types of things that I think are not only appealing to the American people but maybe can help us heal, to recognize that most of our concerns are the same. That our neighbor is not the enemy from within.” ►Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this.

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