'A Farce': MA Gov. Healey Boycotts White House Dinner, Governors Meeting

Gov. Maura Healey said on Thursday she will skip this year's annual White House meeting with Governors and White House Dinner this weekend because President Donald Trump has turned the annual conference of governors into what she called "a farce."

The events were previously hosted by the National Governors Association during their annual conference. But Healey said this year's events have been "completely politicized" by the Trump Administration.

"This has always been an important opportunity for us to discuss the most pressing issues facing our country and how we can work together on solutions," she said in a statement on Thursday. "But it should come as no surprise to anyone that President Trump has completely politicized this. He continues to act in a manner that's beneath the dignity of the Office of the President of the United States."

The boycott marks the latest clash between Healey and Trump administration officials, including those on immigration, energy, SNAP benefits and immunizations.

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"President Trump has made this whole thing a farce," she said. "He doesn't want to work together. He's afraid to hear the truth about the damage he’s doing to our economy, how he's making life harder and more expensive, the dangerous and unlawful tactics of ICE, his tariffs that are driving up costs for everyone, and his cuts to health care.

Healey said attending the weekend of events would amount to a "waste (of) our time."

"He doesn't want to hear about how he’s hurting American competitiveness by defunding science
and research, or how he’s driving away foreign partners and investment while countries like China look to lap us in technology, AI and energy production," she said.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)