Sánchez snubs Trump at UN: Spain´s socialist prime minister will not attend presidential reception in New York

Socialist Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez will not attend the traditional reception hosted by President Donald Trump for heads of state and government on the occasion of the United Nations (U.N.) General Assembly in New York, according to sources at Moncloa Palace who confirmed this to several Spanish media outlets.

The decision, which some in the press are describing as a "snub," comes at a time of bilateral tension. On that same Tuesday, the two will both be present at the opening session of the U.N. general debate, where Trump is scheduled to speak. Sánchez's address to the assembly is scheduled for later this week.

The invitation and the refusal

According to diplomatic and government sources, the White House sent the invitation last week. Moncloa (the residence of the Spanish prime minister) and the Spanish delegation received it, following the usual annual protocol. The reception is scheduled for around 7:15 p.m. at the Lotte Palace, near the United Nations headquarters.

However, Moncloa announced that Sánchez will be unable to attend, citing "scheduling conflicts." Government sources told Europa Press that the prime minister has a "private commitment" that conflicts with the event, although this event does not appear on the Spanish government's official public agenda.

Sánchez, who leads a coalition government between left-wing parties PSOE and Sumar (which includes more radical left-wing forces), has at times taken positions at odds with the Trump administration on issues such as international trade, immigration policy and the conflict in the Middle East.

Reactions in Spain

Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares addressed the political interpretations on the Spanish program "Al Rojo Vivo," calling the notion that Sánchez's absence constitutes a deliberate snub "absurd and twisted."

"Spain and the United States are allies," insisted Albares, who argued that the decision was based solely on the prime minister's busy schedule during his visit to New York.

However, the center-right People's Party (P.P.), the main opposition party, viewed the gesture as a political maneuver. The spokesperson for the Popular Group in Congress, Ester Muñoz, suggested that the "snub" aims to divert attention from the diplomatic crisis with Morocco over the Ceuta incident.

According to a report by The Objective, Muñoz emphasized: "He might choose not to greet Mr. Trump so that people here will talk about it."