Trump attacks Oklahoma's GOP leader ahead of next week's meeting of governors

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump attacked the Republican leader of the National Governors Association on Wednesday as tensions mounted between the White House and the bipartisan group of state leaders ahead of its annual meeting next week.

In a social media post, Trump blasted Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican who chairs the NGA, as a “RINO,” meaning Republican in Name Only. Trump said Stitt “incorrectly stated my position on the very exclusive Governors Annual Dinner and Meeting at the White House.”

The dispute centers on whether Trump would allow governors from both major parties to participate in the full range of White House events, which typically includes a business meeting and meal. In a letter to fellow governors on Monday, Stitt said the NGA was informed that the White House planned to limit invitations to the business meeting to Republicans. That prompted an outcry from Democrats, who said they wouldn't participate in the meal if they weren’t fully included at the business meeting.

By Wednesday, Stitt connected with Trump on the phone and followed up with an email to fellow governors.

“I am writing to inform you that President Donald J. Trump is inviting all governors of the 55 States and territories to the Friday, Feb. 20 NGA Business Breakfast at 8:30am est.,” Stitt wrote. “He was very clear in his communications with me that this is a National Governors Association’s event, and he looks forward to hosting you and hearing from governors across the country. President Donald Trump said this was always his intention, and we have addressed the misunderstanding in scheduling.”

Trump, however, struck a far more adversarial tone in his social media post, calling Stitt's Monday letter “false.”

“The invitations were sent to ALL Governors, other than two, who I feel are not worthy of being there,” he wrote, referring to Democratic Govs. Wes Moore of Maryland and Jared Polis of Colorado.

Trump added: “I look forward to seeing the Republican Governors, and some of the Democrats Governors who were worthy of being invited, but most of whom won’t show up.”

Following Trump's post, Brandon Tatum, the NGA's chief executive, stood by the group's timeline of events.

“As of Tuesday evening, only Republican Governors received invites from the White House for the Friday morning business meeting,” he said in a statement. “We are hopeful that we can have constructive bipartisan dialogue with the President during the session. Continuing the tradition of the business meeting is an important step toward bridge building among parties.”

For now, it's unclear how many Democrats will show up at the White House. Some, including Gov. Gavin Newsom of California, said Wednesday they didn't plan to attend the meeting. Others, such as Gov. Ned Lamont of Connecticut, signaled they would participate.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday that Trump has “discretion to invite anyone he wants to the White House.”

The spat is a reminder of the challenge facing bipartisan or nonpartisan organizations in Trump's Washington. The U.S. Conference of Mayors, which includes city leaders from both parties, met in Washington earlier this month but wasn't invited to the White House.

The governor's meeting, typically a low-key event, took a sharper edge last year when Trump returned to the White House.

The president singled out Maine Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat, over his administration's effort to bar transgender athletes from competing in girls’ and women’s sports. He threatened to withhold federal funding from the state if she did not comply, prompting Mills to retort, “We’ll see you in court.”

Trump predicted that Mills’ political career would be over for opposing the order, though she is now running for U.S. Senate on a staunch anti-Trump agenda.

The back-and-forth had a lasting impact on last year’s conference and some Democratic governors did not renew their dues last year to the bipartisan group.

Associated Press journalists Tran Nguyen in Sacramento, California, and Susan Haigh in Hartford, Connecticut, contributed to this report

President Donald Trump listens to a reporter's question as he flies aboard Air Force One from Joint Base Andrews, Md., to West Palm Beach, Fla., Friday, Feb. 6, 2026 (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Detroit center Isaiah Stewart was suspended seven games by the NBA on Wednesday, while three other players were also penalized for their roles in a fight during a game between the Pistons and Charlotte Hornets.

Hornets forwards Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabaté were each suspended four games for fighting and escalating the altercation, while Pistons center Jalen Duren got two games for initiating the altercation and fighting, the league announced.

But the heaviest penalty went to Stewart, with the league saying it was based in part on his “repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts.” The league said he left the bench area, aggressively entered an on-court altercation, and fought during Monday night’s game.

The suspensions will begin immediately, with Stewart and Duren missing Wednesday night’s game against the Toronto Raptors. Bridges and Diabaté will be out Wednesday night as the Hornets host the Atlanta Hawks.

Stewart has been suspended five times, including once for an altercation with LeBron James in 2021. He was suspended twice last season, including last April in an altercation with the Minnesota Timberwolves that spilled over into the stands.

Hornets coach Charles Lee, who was ejected from the game in the fourth quarter for arguing a call, said he understands the decision handed down by James Jones, the NBA's executive vice president/head of basketball operations.

“I had a conversation with James and he gave me an explanation for why they made the decision and I appreciate that, and I was able to give my sense of what I thought about the situation," Lee said. "It is what it is. We made a choice in that moment and our actions put us in a situation where we have to take the medicine as the league hands out — and do better next time.”

Diabate, Bridges, Duren and Stewart were all ejected from the Pistons’ 110-104 win following a melee in the third quarter.

Duren was driving toward the basket when he was fouled by Diabate. Duren turned around to get face-to-face with Diabate and the two appeared to butt heads. Duren then shoved Diabate in the face with his open hand and things escalated from there.

While Pistons forward Tobias Harris was holding Diabate back, Diabate threw a punch at Duren. Duren walked away and Bridges got involved by charging at him, throwing a left-handed punch. Duren retaliated with a punch. Diabate attempted to charge again at Duren and had to be held back.

Stewart left the bench to confront Bridges, who responded with a punch, and the players tussled. At one point, Stewart rushed to throw a punch at Bridges and missed, but Stewart appeared to get Bridges in a headlock and delivered multiple left-handed blows toward his head.

Duren spoke after the game, calling it an “overly competitive game,” adding that “emotions were flaring. At the end of the day, we would love to keep it basketball, but things happen. Everybody was just playing hard.”

Following practice on Tuesday, Diabate apologized to the Hornets organization and to the fans for his role in the altercation and vowed not to let it happen again.

“When he put his hand in my face, that’s when I think I lost control of it,” Diabate said.

Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff defended his players after the game.

Charlotte Hornets forward Moussa Diabate is held back as he fights with Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

Charlotte Hornets forward Moussa Diabate, front right, is held back as he fights Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) on the court in the second half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller, right, holds back Hornets head coach Charles Lee, left, who yells at an official during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. Lee was ejected from the game. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

Charlotte Hornets forward Moussa Diabate, front right, is held back as he fights with Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) fight during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)