BBC Star Giles Coren Cancels US Family Holiday Citing Safety Concerns
Prominent BBC personality and food writer Giles Coren has made the difficult decision to cancel his family's planned holiday to the United States, citing profound safety concerns. The 55-year-old revealed he cannot in good conscience proceed with the trip amidst ongoing reports of civil unrest and a series of troubling incidents involving federal agents.
A Decision Rooted in Conscience
In a statement shared on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, Coren explained his rationale. "This morning I cancelled our family holiday to America," he wrote. "I cannot in good conscience take my wife and children there and tell them they will be safe. The United States is no longer a place for decent people." The family had originally planned to visit Miami during the February half-term break.
Instead of the American sunshine, the Coren clan will now be heading to Northumberland to explore the historic Hadrian's Wall. "It'll be cold and wet, and the wall doesn't do much," Coren quipped in a subsequent article for The Times. "But the pubs are nice and you don't get murdered. Unless you're a sycamore tree, of course." Despite his past affection for the country, he admitted he is uncertain if he will ever return.
Triggering Events and Political Context
Coren specifically pointed to recent violent incidents in the United States as the catalyst for his decision. He referenced the shooting in Minneapolis, where a US border agent fatally shot Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse at the Minneapolis Veterans Association. This event appears to have been a pivotal moment in his assessment of risk.
The context for this concern is underscored by recent statistics. Since the start of President Donald Trump's second term in January 2025, US immigration agents have been involved in at least 26 shootings. A compilation of reported cases indicates that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents specifically have been involved in at least 12 of these incidents, with six resulting in fatalities.
Political Fallout and Local Response
The Minneapolis shooting has sparked significant political backlash. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz branded the incident "horrific" and called on President Trump to withdraw ICE operations from the state. "Minnesota has had it. This is sickening," Walz stated on X. "The President must end this operation. Pull the thousands of violent, untrained officers out of Minnesota. Now."
Local reports from the scene add further detail, suggesting that following the shooting, ICE agents attempted to instruct Minneapolis police to leave the area. Police Chief O'Hara reportedly refused this order and directed his officers to secure and preserve the crime scene, highlighting tensions between federal and local authorities.
A Broader Conversation on Travel Safety
While Coren's decision is a personal one for his family, it taps into a wider, increasingly common debate about travel safety and political climate. His very public cancellation and reasoning bring attention to:
- The impact of domestic unrest on international tourism perceptions.
- The personal risk assessments families now make when planning overseas travel.
- The role of high-profile figures in highlighting geopolitical and social issues.
For now, the Coren family's itinerary has shifted from the beaches of Florida to the rugged, historic landscape of Northern England, a change emblematic of a growing caution among some travellers regarding destinations experiencing internal strife.
