Politically charged events follow Trump's formal reception in the UK
Trump's Second State Visit to the UK: A Mix of Ceremony and Controversy
U.S. President Donald Trump is back in the UK for his second state visit, and it's already shaping up to be a mix of grand ceremonies and political controversy.
Trump was welcomed at Windsor Castle by King Charles III, who hosted a royal spectacle complete with gun salutes, mounted horses, and bagpipes. The American planes were scheduled for an unprecedented joint flypast, but bad weather caused the U.S. planes to pull out.
The visit took a serious turn on Thursday with talks hosted by Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Starmer and Trump's discussions will cover issues such as trade, Ukraine, and Gaza. It's worth noting that Starmer has positioned himself as a bridge between the United States and European allies, particularly on the war in Ukraine.
The state banquet, attended by 160 guests, including senior royals, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, media mogul Rupert Murdoch, Apple CEO Tim Cook, and golfer Nick Faldo, featured a menu of watercress panna cotta, chicken wrapped in courgettes, and vanilla ice cream bombe with raspberry sorbet. The playlist for the event included Trump's favourites such as Nessun Dorma and a James Bond medley.
However, the trip is happening behind closed doors to keep Trump far away from the British public, who remain unpopular towards Trump in polls. In fact, approximately 5,000 people marched through central London, protesting Trump's visit with signs such as "Migrants welcome, Trump not welcome."
Political trouble for Keir Starmer at home includes the sacking of his U.K. ambassador to Washington, Peter Mandelson, over a furore involving Mandelson's connections to the late U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
On a positive note, U.S. private equity giant Blackstone plans to invest £90 billion ($123 billion) on U.K. projects over the next decade, and British pharmaceutical group GSK announced it will invest $30 billion in the United States over the next five years.
The trip took an interesting turn late Tuesday when police arrested four people after they projected images of Trump and Epstein onto Windsor Castle.
Trump inspected troops at Windsor Castle, participating in an elaborate welcome designed to appeal to Trump's love of pageantry. Notably, Starmer and Trump signed an "economic prosperity deal" at the White House in May.
The visit continues, with more discussions and ceremonies planned. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
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