Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt speaks at a Make Oklahoma Healthy Again kickoff event at the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. June 26, 2025. REUTERS/Nick Oxford
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt — a Republican who also serves as chair of the National Governors Association (NGA) — is losing the support of his fellow Oklahoma Republicans as they side with President Donald Trump in the president’s public feud with him. At issue: Stitt is fighting Trump over the president’s refusal to allow specific Democratic governors (Wes Moore of Maryland and Jared Polis of Colorado) to attend the NGA’s annual White House meeting.
Atty. Gen. Gentner Drummond said he agreed with Trump in calling Stitt a “RINO” (Republican In Name Only) for arguing that all America’s governors should be invited to the annual event, as is tradition for the NGA. Drummond is running in the upcoming GOP primary to replace Stitt as governor.
“Governor Stitt misrepresented the President’s invitation to the governors and has often taken baffling positions that are out of step with Oklahoma republicans,” Drummond said.
Chip Keating, Oklahoma’s former Secretary of Public Safety, said that Stitt and Keating’s other opponents in the gubernatorial race “were never known as ‘Trump guys’ before they announced for governor. These office-hoppers are only loyal to their next election, not to the Oklahomans who elected them and overwhelmingly voted for President Trump all three times.”
Trump and Stitt began feuding over the NGA event when the White House allegedly withheld invitations to Democratic governors. Stitt responded by withdrawing the NGA from business breakfast and a follow up black tie dinner. On Wednesday Stitt publicly stated that all 55 governors and territory leaders were invited, characterizing the earlier dispute as a “misunderstanding.”
Trump replied by going on his Truth Social platform to claim that there had been no misunderstanding, but rather that Stitt “incorrectly stated” Trump’s position. He later described Stitt as a “very mediocre” governor who “called for help” during the 2022 gubernatorial election.
“I Endorsed him, and he won – Sorry, my cherished Oklahoma, to have done that to you!” Trump said.
Stitt initially was a very vocal supporter of Trump, but has recently split with the president on his National Guard deployments and immigration policies. He has also feuded with Ryan Walters, the former Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction.