Michael Gove has revealed a planned meeting with Donald Trump during the state visit was scrapped, in a move likely to be seen as a snub to the Tory leadership hopeful.
The environment secretary – who is one of 11 Conservative MPs vying to replace Theresa May in Number 10 – had been expected to have a one-on-one meeting with the president today.
“I’m afraid I didn’t see him today,” he told the Scottish Affairs Committee, adding that he had seen him at the state banquet at Buckingham Palace.
“I had an opportunity to say a few words to the president on Monday night,” Gove told MPs.
Trump did however meet with Jeremy Hunt – foreign secretary and Gove’s leadership rival – in private on Tuesday night.
The president is also thought to have spoken to leadership favourite Boris Johnson on the phone for 20 minutes during his three day official trip to the UK.
The news comes just one day after the president claimed he didn’t know Gove – despite meeting him back in 2017.
Asked about the race to replace May as Tory leader, Trump told reporters at the Foreign Office: “I know Boris. I like him. I have liked him for a long time. I think he would do a very good job. I know Jeremy, I think he would do a very good job.
“I don’t know Michael - would he do a good job Jeremy?”
But Gove insisted to MPs he may still have had an influence on the president.
Speaking about the state banquet held in Trump’s honour, he said: “These occasions require people to wear evening dress. I had the opportunity to wear the kilt. It was very interesting that my wife was talking to the First Lady, who was very taken with that.
“I think the president may well be placing an order for a dress Gordon tartan.
“That is another example of a successful trading relationship between the UK and America that we have brokered,” Gove joked.
He may have missed out on his chance at a one-on-one meeting with the president, but Gove still did better than Sajid Javid.
According to sources, the home secretary – who did not attend dinner at Buckingham Palace – only had a “brief brush-by” with the commander in chief.