Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney has politely turned down an invitation from US President Donald Trump to attend a state banquet at the White House next week.
The invitation was part of celebrations surrounding the upcoming US state visit by King Charles III and Queen Camilla. The royal visit, taking place from 27 to 30 April, will be King Charles’ first state trip to the United States since Queen Elizabeth II travelled there in 2007.
A Scottish government spokesperson confirmed that President Trump personally invited Swinney during a brief phone call on Monday that lasted around four minutes. During the conversation, the First Minister thanked the president for the invitation but explained he would not be able to attend because he is campaigning ahead of next month’s Scottish Parliament election.
The Holyrood election is scheduled for 7 May, and Swinney remains First Minister while leading the Scottish National Party campaign. Officials said the decision was simply due to election commitments rather than any diplomatic disagreement.
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Swinney and Trump have met previously. The Scottish leader visited the White House in September last year to discuss a possible agreement that would remove US import tariffs on Scotch whisky, an important industry for Scotland. A week after that meeting, Swinney attended a state banquet at Windsor Castle held in honour of the US president.
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In recent weeks, Swinney has also commented on international tensions, calling for de-escalation following US military strikes in Iran and warning about the risks of further conflict.
Although he will not attend the White House banquet, the Scottish government said the First Minister appreciated the invitation and wished the royal visit every success as preparations continue for the historic trip.
