SNP MP blasts dignitaries dining with Donald Trump at state banquet attended by John Swinney

An SNP MP slammed politicians and dignitaries who dined with US President Donald Trump at a state banquet – which was attended by the party’s leader and Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney.

On Wednesday, Dundee Central MP Chris Law blasted those who chose to attend the lavish dinner at Windsor Castle in a tweet, saying those who did were conceding “it’s acceptable to support genocide in Gaza”.

However he soon deleted the message, as SNP party leader John Swinney was in attendance.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer (L) and John Swinney (R) attended the State Banquet at Windsor Castle for the State visit by the President of the United States of America on Wednesday. Getty Images

Posting on X, Law said: “Sitting at tonight’s banquet dinner with President Donald Trump is conceding that it’s acceptable to support Genocide in Gaza after yesterday’s publication of UN’s report on Gaza.”

The report in question was compiled by a group of three independent experts commissioned by the United Nations Human Rights Council.

It concluded on Tuesday that Israel is committing genocide in the Palestinian territory.

A screengrab of Chris Law's since-deleted post on X. — A screengrab of Chris Law’s since-deleted post on X. STV News

Wednesday evening’s banquet was attended by Swinney, who was “representing Scotland at an international level” according to justice secretary Angela Constance.

In recent weeks, Swinney has met with the US President in an attempt to secure a better deal on whisky tariffs.

Constance defended Swinney’s appearance at the event and said she did not know why Law posted such a comment on social media.

“With the greatest respect I have not been glued to social media,” she told BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland programme on Thursday.

John Swinney held a press conference at Bute House on Wednesday.

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“The Scottish Government’s position on the suffering, the genocide in Gaza is very, very clear and we are playing our part to step up, call for justice, call for an end to that suffering and doing practical endeavours.”

She added it was “only this week we are seeing those that have been hurt and injured coming to Scotland” – with two children injured in the conflict travelling to the country for treatment, along with their families.

Constance added: “People in Scotland also expect our First Minister to be representing Scotland at an international level, that is in the interests of all us.”

The SNP have been contacted for comment.