A Diplomatic Absence: Welsh First Minister's Trump Banquet Snub Sparks Debate on Protocol and Principle
CARDIFF, WALES – In a move that has ignited a fierce debate over diplomatic protocol, domestic politics, and the optics of international engagement, Wales’s First Minister Eluned Morgan has formally declined a prestigious invitation from King Charles III to attend the state banquet honouring former U.S. President Donald J. Trump at Windsor Castle. The decision, set against the backdrop of President Trump's second official state visit to the United Kingdom, has drawn criticism from political opponents, raised questions about Wales's representation on the world stage, and highlighted the complex interplay between devolved governance and national diplomacy.The elaborate state visit, a carefully choreographed display of the "Special Relationship," saw President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrive at London Stansted Airport on Tuesday night. The itinerary, packed with pomp and ceremony, culminated in the grand state banquet—an event designed to strengthen bilateral ties and facilitate high-level discussions between allies. Such occasions are typically attended by the highest echelons of British leadership, including the Prime Minister, senior cabinet ministers, and the First Ministers of the devolved administrations of Scotland and Wales, representing the union in its entirety.
The Welsh government's initial explanation for Morgan's absence pointed to a profound domestic tragedy. The recent sudden death of Hefin David, the respected Labour Member of the Senedd (MS) for Caerphilly, has cast a pall over the Welsh parliament. A government spokesperson stated that the First Minister felt "her place is here with colleagues as she continues to support them during this incredibly difficult time," emphasizing a duty to her grieving team over a duty to diplomatic ceremony. A follow-up statement clarified that a "private engagement tonight between the first minister and MSs" had been arranged, ostensibly a gathering to mourn and support one another.
However, the political subtext of the decision was immediately seized upon by opponents. Darren Millar, the Conservative Senedd leader, lambasted the move as a deliberate and damaging snub. While offering his sincere condolences to Mr. David's family and colleagues, Millar argued that the demands of state should have taken precedence.
"All of us have been affected by the terrible tragic death of our dear colleague Hefin David and, of course, my heart goes out with great sympathy to everybody in the Labour Party, including Labour MSs," Millar stated on BBC Radio Wales' The Phone In. "But the first minister has a deputy first minister, she also has other government ministers and Wales should be represented... It will be deemed to be a snub by the United States that there's no Welsh government representative at this very important event. That, I think, is deeply, deeply regrettable."
Millar’s criticism touches on a core tension in modern diplomacy: the balance between authentic human emotion and the unwavering expectations of international protocol. His argument suggests that the machinery of government, complete with a fully capable deputy, should be able to manage a period of mourning while ensuring the nation’s interests are represented at a critical global forum.
The economic stakes for Wales are considerable, adding a layer of tangible consequence to the political spat. Welsh government analysis consistently identifies the United States as Wales's second most valuable trading partner by country, with a robust exchange of goods and services flowing across the Atlantic. More pointedly, a major unresolved trade issue hangs over the visit: the status of U.S. tariffs on UK steel.
The Welsh steel industry, a historic cornerstone of its economy, faces uncertainty. Talks on scrapping these tariffs are currently in a holding pattern, with U.S. officials reportedly raising concerns over Tata Steel's strategic shift from traditional blast furnaces at its Port Talbot plant to new electric arc furnaces—a transition set for 2027 that has also sparked fierce domestic debate over job losses. The state banquet and the surrounding visit present a unique opportunity for informal, high-level dialogue on such issues, and Morgan's absence means Wales has one less voice at the table to advocate for its vital economic interests.
The First Minister's relationship with the guest of honour adds another dimension to the story. Officially, the Welsh government’s line has been cordial and focused on partnership. Following Trump's re-election last year, Morgan congratulated him and referred to the US-Wales relationship as "highly valued." Yet, her personal past views are a matter of public record. In a 2017 BBC Wales interview, following Trump's inauguration and controversial travel ban, Morgan did not mince words, describing the president as "off-the-scale crazy." This past criticism inevitably fuels speculation that her refusal to attend the banquet is motivated by more than just a scheduling conflict with a memorial event.
Furthermore, Morgan is not operating in a vacuum. Her decision places her within a broader pattern of political boycotts of the Trump visit. Sir Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, announced his boycott in August, intending to send a stark message to the former President over his policies regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Conversely, Scotland's First Minister, John Swinney, confirmed his attendance, believing representation and engagement to be the more responsible course for his nation.
The leaders of Plaid Cymru, Rhun ap Iorwerth and Liz Saville Roberts, have also been vocal critics of the visit, though they directed their ire towards UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. They accused him of "rolling out the red carpet" and warned that bestowing full state honours on Trump "risks emboldening extremism at home and abroad." This creates a political environment where Morgan's Labour party in Wales is facing pressure from both the right, which demands protocol, and from Welsh nationalists on the left, who oppose the normalization of Trump's politics.
Ultimately, the First Minister's absence from the grand halls of Windsor Castle is more than a simple diary conflict. It is a multifaceted political act. It can be interpreted as a genuine leader prioritizing her team in a moment of collective grief, a symbolic snub by a politician who personally disapproves of the guest of honour, a pragmatic calculation to avoid being photographed alongside a deeply divisive figure, or a unfortunate misstep that leaves Welsh interests unrepresented at a crucial moment.
The episode underscores the delicate and often precarious position of devolved leaders within the framework of national diplomacy. It raises enduring questions about whether attendance at such events constitutes an endorsement of an individual's politics or simply a fulfilment of a duty to represent a nation's economic and strategic interests. While the private mourning for Hefin David continues in Wales, the public debate over Eluned Morgan's choice ensures that Wales's presence, through its absence, will be a noted part of the narrative surrounding Donald Trump's return to the UK stage.