Trump Received Warm Welcome in Britain
In a whirlwind visit to the UK, US President Donald Trump was met with unprecedented fanfare from the government and the British royal family. The visit aimed to reaffirm Trump's ties with Western allies, but it was not without its share of controversies.
During a press conference with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump praised the unbreakable relationship between the UK and the US. However, when asked about using his influence on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end the Gaza conflict, Trump focused instead on the release of hostages. He did not address the question directly.
Trump did express his disgust with the terrorist organization Hamas, praising Prime Minister Starmer for his stance. The issue of Epstein, a sensitive topic for weeks, was not a major topic during Trump's state visit to the UK.
The scandal surrounding Epstein has caused waves on both sides of the Atlantic, with activists projecting old footage of Trump with Epstein onto a tower of Windsor Castle on the eve of the royal pageantry, causing controversy. The ambassador to the USA who was recalled by Keir Starmer before his trip due to a particularly close relationship with Jeffrey Epstein was Peter Mandelson, who played a significant role in planning the state visit and was the 'mastermind' behind the trade deal that Britain struck with Trump in May.
Trump's friendship with Epstein has also been a sensitive issue in the US, and Starmer recently had to dismiss his ambassador in Washington due to his relationship with Epstein. The U.S. Republicans had recently complained about an alleged restriction of freedom of speech in Britain, but Trump's actions may have contributed to the issue.
In other matters, Trump expressed his disappointment with Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of 'killing many people.' He has made further Russia sanctions contingent on all NATO countries imposing high tariffs on Chinese imports and stopping Russian oil purchases.
Trump also dismissed wind power as an 'expensive joke' and advised Starmer to increase oil production in the North Sea. The visit also saw King Charles III urging Trump to support Ukraine in his speech at the state banquet.
The US broadcaster ABC canceled the late-night show hosted by U.S. comedian Jimmy Kimmel, and reports suggest that pressure from Trump's MAGA movement played a role. Trump brushed off questions about the cancellation, claiming that Kimmel was fired due to poor ratings.
Despite the controversies, Trump described Britain's imminent recognition of a Palestinian state as 'one of the few areas of disagreement' with Starmer. Overall, the visit served to reaffirm the strong ties between the US and the UK, but the Epstein scandal and other issues cast a shadow over the proceedings.
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