When it comes to opulent gatherings, this one truly stood out. Imagine some of the world’s most influential, wealthy, and well-connected figures, all seated around a magnificent table within a nearly thousand-year-old castle. The guest of honor, President Trump, donned white tie and appeared remarkably pleased, receiving a king’s welcome from an actual king.
King Charles III’s state dinner for President Trump at Windsor Castle on Wednesday night marked a new high point for the former president. It was a dazzling display of the powerful vying for favor with a president whose second term has been characterized by stark displays of authority, both in confronting perceived domestic adversaries and straining international alliances.
“The bond between our two nations is indeed a remarkable one,” King Charles stated, emphasizing, “In renewing our bond tonight, we do so with unshakable trust in our friendship and in our shared commitment to independence and liberty.”
President Trump was visibly delighted, unfazed when the King subtly touched upon environmental concerns and the ongoing need to support Ukraine during his speech.
Mr. Trump, beaming, responded, “It’s a singular privilege to be the first American president welcomed here.” Historically, these state dinners typically occur at Buckingham Palace in London, but ongoing renovations led to the majestic shift to Windsor. It’s worth noting that other U.S. presidents, including Mr. Trump himself during his first term, have visited Windsor, though not for a full state dinner.
A lavishly decorated long table stretched across the grand hall, surrounded by over 150 distinguished guests, including King Charles III and President Trump. The scene captured the grandeur of the state dinner.(Visual: Ornate banquet hall at Windsor Castle with a long table set for many guests.)
Britain’s motive was clear: The royal family, working in concert with the government, lavished attention and honors on the president in hopes of fostering a more amenable atmosphere for forthcoming diplomatic negotiations with the prime minister.
But who else graced this extraordinary table? One hundred and sixty guests filled the banquet room, the clinking of 1,452 pieces of cutlery echoing among media titans, financiers, politicians, and tech moguls. Interspersed among these influential figures were members of Mr. Trump’s cabinet and his most senior White House advisors.
The seating arrangement alone could serve as a historical document, offering insights into the power dynamics of the modern West. This was no ordinary celebrity gala; it was a gathering focused purely on real, tangible influence.
Britain’s Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, found himself seated next to New York financier Stephen Schwarzman, CEO of Blackstone. Brian Moynihan, CEO of Bank of America, also sat nearby. Silicon Valley’s artificial intelligence visionary, Sam Altman, was positioned beside Kemi Badenoch, leader of Britain’s Conservative Party. Other notable attendees included Demis Hassabis, who heads Google’s secretive DeepMind A.I. lab in London; Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella; and Salesforce co-founder Marc Benioff. Even Apple CEO Tim Cook was present.
Mr. Cook’s attendance was particularly noteworthy. Just weeks prior, he had presented Mr. Trump with a custom piece of Corning glass, set in a 24-karat gold stand, during an Oval Office appearance. This gesture aimed to highlight Apple’s U.S. investments and mend relations with Mr. Trump, who had been displeased by Cook’s absence from a Middle East tech summit during his previous visit.
A snapshot shows Apple’s chief executive, Tim Cook, alongside Tiffany Trump as they arrive at the state dinner in Windsor Castle.(Visual: Tim Cook and Tiffany Trump entering the state dinner.)
And there he was on Wednesday, Mr. Cook, seated next to Tiffany Trump in the grand banquet hall. Aside from the First Lady, Melania Trump, who sat between Queen Camilla and Prince William, Tiffany and her husband were the only Trump family members in attendance.
Yet another guest’s presence was especially revealing: media magnate Rupert Murdoch, seated across from Mr. Cook and a few seats to his right. Murdoch and Trump share a long, complicated, and often tumultuous relationship. Currently, things are ‘off’: just months ago, The Wall Street Journal, a jewel in Murdoch’s media empire, published a story about Mr. Trump’s past association with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, prompting the president to vehemently deny the report and file a lawsuit against the paper and its owner. Mr. Trump’s legal action became notably personal, successfully demanding updates on the 94-year-old Murdoch’s health after pushing for his deposition within days.
Murdoch’s seating position placed him out of the president’s immediate line of sight, yet he remained present, enduring a speech extolling Mr. Trump’s virtues. Curiously, the newspaper baron was seated beside Morgan McSweeney, the prime minister’s chief of staff, who is currently facing intense media scrutiny, particularly in—you guessed it—the Murdoch papers.
Even amidst this evening of grand deference, Mr. Trump’s desire for retribution remained strong. After the dinner, he gleefully announced on social media that ABC had indefinitely canceled the show of comedian and frequent Trump critic Jimmy Kimmel. He also declared his intention to designate the “Antifa” movement as “A MAJOR TERRORIST ORGANIZATION,” all while preparing to spend the night within the ancient castle walls.
Windsor Castle, renowned as the world’s oldest and largest inhabited castle, has been in continuous use since William the Conqueror built it after 1066. It boasts a moat, formidable stone walls, and an intricate network of rooms. The towering banquet hall is adorned with the shields of the Knights of the Garter, dating back to 1348, with polished suits of armor overlooking the dining table from carved plinths.
Beyond these formidable gates, however, Mr. Trump faces a world that doesn’t always view him, or treat him, with the same reverence as the powerful figures gathered at Windsor. Just last week, during his first post-comeback dinner out in Washington, the president was confronted and yelled at in a restaurant by Gaza supporters who compared him to Adolf Hitler before being ejected.
Indeed, on the eve of the state dinner, protesters in Britain projected images of Mr. Trump with Mr. Epstein onto the castle walls, a stark reminder of the political storms awaiting him back home.
Ultimately, fortresses are built to keep the outside world out, but even the most elaborate banquet eventually comes to an end.