President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump recently returned to the United States after making a second state visit to the United Kingdom. While there, the Trumps attended a lavish state banquet where both the U.S. president and King Charles gave speeches. During his speech, Trump might’ve broken protocol by referring to the U.S. as a previously “sick country” that is now the “hottest country anywhere in the world.” But he also went viral over something much more subtle: an awkward interaction with Kate Middleton.
The Princess of Wales was seated next to Trump at the state banquet, and the moment in which he tried to tuck in her chair for her was caught on camera. On X, one person shared the footage and captioned it with, “Ew don’t touch her chair.” While some people thought the interaction was no big deal, others thought Kate looked “so uncomfortable” and even speculated that “she doesn’t like him.”
ew don’t touch her chair pic.twitter.com/RzMylM4Jrw
— blake ౨ৎ (@HELENNMCCRORY) September 17, 2025
Reacting to the clip, some people said they felt sorry for Kate because of the seating arrangement at the lavish dinner. “Catherine really doing her bit for British/American diplomatic relations here,” one person commented. Another wrote, “Kate needs a pay increase for sitting next to [Trump].”
A third person said, “She doesn’t look happy to be there, playing the role of the pretty doll for Trump’s delight.” However, another moment from the dinner went viral — a photo that captured the Princess of Wales and the president smiling at each other. After seeing the photo, some people criticized Kate for looking too happy in Trump’s presence.
“Cozying up to that man while people are calling him out in the streets and while he’s suppressing freedom for people who don’t think like him,” one critic wrote on X. “Her heart is in the wrong place.” At the same time, others thought the criticism seemed far too harsh.
“I’m no royalist, but Americans on this app being angry [at] Kate Middleton for being civil with Trump & his wife makes 0 sense,” another X user argued. “She’s nice to all visiting Heads of States, she’s host princess.”
Someone else even praised Kate for how she handled her interactions with the Trumps, writing that they were impressed by her ability to “get through an entire banquet” while seated next to the “sleazy” president.
During the state visit, Trump also commented on Kate’s appearance multiple times. When they shook hands upon his arrival, he told her that she’s “so beautiful.” Then, during his state banquet speech, Trump called Kate “so radiant and so healthy, so beautiful.”
