Washington – Tension between Donald Trump and Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt reached a boiling point Wednesday, as Trump took to his Truth Social platform in a series of personal attacks against the governor, who is currently the Chairman of the National Governors Association (NGA).
In a Truth Social post regarding Stitt, Trump declared Stitt to be a “RINO,” meaning “Republican in Name Only.”
The conflict started when the White House allegedly chose to withhold invitations to Democratic governors to a yearly bipartisan event scheduled for Feb. 20. As NGA Chair, Stitt withdrew the NGA from business breakfast and a follow-up black tie dinner in protest of the partisan shift.
The situation changed on Wednesday when Stitt informed all 55 governors and territory leaders that he had spoken with Trump and that the “misunderstanding” was resolved, claiming all governors had now been invited to the event.
This was when Trump took to social media to refute Gov. Stitt’s claim that there was a misunderstanding. Trump said Stitt “incorrectly stated” his position.
While the President says the event was always open to most governors, he stated that Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis remain uninvited, saying they were “not worthy.”
The dispute turned even more public and personal Wednesday evening when Trump posted a follow-up on Truth Social, calling Stitt a “very mediocre” governor. He went on to claim credit for Stitt’s 2022 re-election victory, stating the Governor had “called for help” when he was allegedly losing the race: “I Endorsed him, and he won – Sorry, my cherished Oklahoma, to have done that to you!”
The drama is a significant shift for Kevin Stitt, who has historically been a vocal supporter of the Trump administration. However, Stitt’s recent public disagreements with the White House over National Guard deployments and federal immigration policy have created visible friction.
As a governor in his last term, Stitt is barred from seeking re-election in 2026, which may provide him with an increased level of political flexibility. His current pushback against Trump surrounding his NGA decision follows a 2024 election cycle where Stitt initially endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for president over Donald Trump.
Their recent history of conflict suggests that Gov. Stitt may be prioritizing his role as NGA Chair over the traditional party system typically required for future campaign efforts. As of Wednesday night, Gov. Stitt’s office has not released an official response to the “RINO” comment or the claims surrounding his 2022 campaign.
Gaylord News is a reporting project of the University of Oklahoma Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication. For more stories by Gaylord News, go to GaylordNews.net.
