Britain showcases ceremonial spectacle to charm Trump, with demonstrations and political turmoil brewing
The United Kingdom is preparing for a significant event as former US President Donald Trump embarks on his second state visit, marking a historical milestone as the first US president to be invited for two state visits, previously hosted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2019.
A series of agreements worth £10 billion (€11.5 billion) are set to be signed during Trump's visit, including one for speeding up new nuclear projects and a 'world-leading tech partnership'. US finance firms PayPal and Citi Group have announced plans to spend £1.25 billion (€1.3 billion) in the UK, while Google has announced an investment of £5 billion (€5.7 billion) over the next two years.
Trump's visit is expected to see the strengthening of the relationship between the two countries, reaching new heights. However, tensions are expected to persist in the background, with the White House stating that Trump will discuss the importance of protecting free speech in the UK.
Amidst the planned agreements and discussions, demonstrations are planned in Windsor and central London over Trump's visit, the scale of which is unprecedented. Protesters have voiced concerns over Trump's policies and actions during his presidency.
The Trumps and the royals met inside a ring of steel, out of sight from protesters, with Prince William and Catherine greeting Trump and Melania Trump at Windsor Castle at 12:15pm local time. The ceremony involved 120 horses and 1,300 members of the British military, with a 41-gun salute fired from six World War One-era guns on the castle's east lawn and at the Tower of London.
Trump's meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer is a notable event, as Starmer, the Labour leader, is not a natural bedfellow for Trump. However, Trump has worked to win him over. The meeting will take place at Chequers, the Prime Minister's country residence, with King Charles III also receiving Trump at Windsor Castle.
Ukraine will be a key topic during Trump's visit, with leaders pushing him to continue supporting Kyiv amid signs of leaning towards Russian President Vladimir Putin. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Trump is likely to meet with Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky next week, with hopes of brokering a peace deal between Kyiv and Moscow.
Trump has filed a $15 billion (€12.8 billion) defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, accusing the outlet of a 'decades-long pattern' of smears driven by feelings of 'actual malice'. Meanwhile, Starmer's spokesman has called the language used by Elon Musk, who spoke at a far-right rally in Britain, 'dangerous and inflammatory'.
First Lady Melania Trump will take part in an event with Queen Camilla on Thursday. Trump indicated that Britain seeks to put the finishing touches on a deal to avoid his sweeping global tariffs. The visit of Trump to the UK is set to be a series of significant events, marking a pivotal moment in the relationship between the two nations.
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