In another era, the scene would have been unremarkable. But in President Donald Trump’s Washington, it’s become increasingly rare.

Sitting side by side on stage were Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican, and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, a Democrat. They traded jokes and compliments instead of insults and accusations, a brief interlude of cordiality in a cacophony of conflict.

Stitt and Moore are the leaders of the National Governors Association, one of a vanishing few bipartisan institutions left in American politics. But it may be hard for the organization, which is holding its annual conference this week, to maintain its reputation as a refuge from polarization.

Trump has broken with custom by declining to invite all governors to the traditional White House meeting and dinner. He has called Stitt, the NGA�s chair, a �RINO,� short for Republican in name only, and continued to feud with Moore, the group�s vice chair, by blaming him for a sewage spill involving a federally regulated pipeline.

The break with tradition reflects Trump�s broader approach to his second term. He has taken a confrontational stance toward some states, withholding federal funds or deploying troops over the objections of local officials.

With the Republican-controlled Congress unwilling to limit Trump’s ambitions, several governors have increasingly cast themselves as a counterweight to the White House.

�Presidents aren�t supposed to do this stuff,� Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said about the expansion of executive power in recent administrations. �Congress needs to get their act together. And stop performing for TikTok and actually start doing stuff. That�s the flaw we�re dealing with right now.�

Cox, a Republican, said “it is up to the states to hold the line.�

Moore echoed that sentiment in an interview with The Associated Press.

�People are paying attention to how governors are moving, because I think governors have a unique way to move in this moment that other people just don�t,� he said.

Still, governors struck an optimistic tone in panels and interviews Wednesday. Stitt said the conference is �bigger than one dinner at the White House.� Moore predicted �this is going to be a very productive three days for the governors.�

�Here�s a Republican and Democrat governor from different states that literally agree on probably 80% of the things. And the things we disagree on we can have honest conversations on,� Stitt said while sitting beside Moore.

Tensions over the guest list for White House events underscored the uncertainty surrounding the week. During the back-and-forth, Trump feuded with Stitt and said Moore and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis were not invited because they �are not worthy of being there.�

Whether the bipartisan tone struck Wednesday evening can endure through the week � and beyond � remains an open question.

�We can have disagreements. In business, I always want people around me arguing with me and pushing me because that’s where the best ideas come from,� said Stitt. �We need to all have these exchange of ideas.�

(AP)