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Donald Trump’s state visit to UK in June prompts protest plans
MPs and others geared up for fresh protests after Downing Street on Tuesday confirmed that US president Donald Trump will arrive here on a state visit in the first week of June.
MPs and others geared up for fresh protests after Downing Street on Tuesday confirmed that US President Donald Trump will arrive here on a state visit in the first week of June, setting the stage for a repeat of demonstrations held during his July 2018 non-state visit.
Prime minister Theresa May had invited Trump on the state visit soon after he took over as president. A state visit involves much ceremony involving Queen Elizabeth, as well as a likely address to parliament, but there appears to be less appetite for such an address for now.
A No 10 spokesperson said: “The president and first lady will make a state visit to the UK on 3-5 June, as announced by Buckingham Palace this afternoon. President Trump will be a guest of the queen during the visit, and will also have discussions with the prime minister in Downing Street”.
There were several demonstrations in London during the 2018 visit, including an orange Trump baby blip floated over parliament square.
May said: “The UK and United States have a deep and enduring partnership that is rooted in our common history and shared interests. We do more together than any two nations in the world and we are both safer and more prosperous because of our cooperation”.
“The state visit is an opportunity to strengthen our already close relationship in areas such as trade, investment, security and defence, and to discuss how we can build on these ties in the years ahead”.
However, the announcement soon prompted plans to protest as well as criticism.
Labour MP David Lammy tweeted: “Deluded, dishonest, xenophobic, narcissistic, Donald Trump is no friend of Britain. He is not fit to hold public office, let alone worthy of our country’s highest honours and a banquet with the queen. Theresa May is selling out the UK to a serial liar and a cheat”.
Stella Creasy, another Labour MP, said it is time to resurrect the protest campaign “to make sure those targeted by Trump’s hate know whose side this country is on”.
