Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., moved Sunday to tamp down concerns over a public dust-up between President Donald Trump and Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, characterizing the clash as nothing more than a disagreement between friends.
The friction began earlier this week when President Trump referred to Stitt as a “RINO,” or “Republican in name only,” after the governor announced that the National Governors Association, which he currently chairs, would not hold its annual meeting at the White House following an initial invitation that reportedly included only Republican governors.
Appearing on CNN’s State of the Union, Mullin dismissed the tension and suggested it should not be overblown. “Sometimes, friends disagree. And I’ll let them work that one out,” Mullin told host Jake Tapper.
Pressed further about Stitt’s conservative credentials, Mullin — who emphasized that he is friends with both Trump and Stitt — pointed to what he described as a personality difference between the two leaders. He also noted that Stitt endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, a move that may have contributed to lingering tensions.
According to Mullin, the disagreement appears rooted less in policy and more in personal dynamics and political loyalties during the primary season.
In a post on Truth Social, President Trump criticized Stitt and clarified that all governors, not just Republicans, were invited to the Feb. 20 meeting at the White House. Stitt, however, said earlier that after speaking directly with Trump — and before the president’s public criticism — the issue had already been resolved.
Stitt indicated that the initial controversy stemmed from what he described as a scheduling misunderstanding. In a letter to fellow governors, he wrote that Trump had made clear the event was intended to be a National Governors Association gathering inclusive of governors from across the country.
“He was very clear in his communications with me that this is a National Governors Association event, and he looks forward to hosting you and hearing from governors across the country. President Trump said this was always his intention, and we have addressed the misunderstanding in scheduling,” Stitt wrote.
While the dispute between Trump and Stitt appeared to ease following their conversation, the broader controversy surrounding the meeting continued to draw reactions from Democrats.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, a Democrat who serves as vice chair of the NGA, told CBS News earlier this week that he would not attend the Friday meeting. Moore cited the fact that he and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, also a Democrat, were not invited to a Saturday black-tie dinner connected to the gathering.
“Oh, I’m good,” Moore said. “I will not go. Absolutely not.”
Despite the political back-and-forth, Mullin’s comments suggest that within Republican circles, the matter is being treated as a temporary disagreement rather than a deeper ideological rift. By framing the episode as a clash of personalities and political history rather than principle, Mullin signaled confidence that both Trump and Stitt will ultimately move past the dispute.
For now, the situation underscores the lingering sensitivities from the 2024 GOP primary, even as Republican leaders continue to navigate relationships within their own party.
[READ MORE: Bessent Defends Housing Market Gains Under Trump as Lawmakers Debate Affordability Measures]
