US President Trump landed in London for a three-day state visit which began with exchange of insults and political lure.
Donald Trump arrived in UK for a three-day ceremonial state visit amid growing calls for impeachment, intensifying trade wars and protests from British citizens.
Hours before his scheduled visit to meet Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace, Trump launched a Twitter attack on London Mayor Sadiq Khan for his public denunciation of the planned felicitation of the US President during the state visit.
- Trump attended an official welcome ceremony with Queen Elizabeth at the Buckingham Palace.
- Next up is a private lunch, a tour of Westminster Abbey, tea with Prince Charles and Camilla, followed by an evening banquet with British elite.
- Trump will meet UK Prime Minister Theresa May before she steps down as Conservative leader after being unable to garner support for her Brexit plan.
- Thousands of protesters will take to pack London’s Trafalgar Square against Trump’s visit.
- Trump is looking forward to a U.S.-British trade deal – but a Brexit may threaten an agreement between the allies
In the lead up to his visit, Trump has taken digs at UK PM Theresa May, opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn, American-born Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle and London Mayor Sadiq Khan.
The tussle with London’s Mayor
Preceding President Trump’s state visit, London Mayor Sadiq Khan has led London’s protesters in resistance. In a piece in the Guardian newspaper, Khan had accused Trump of using the language of the “fascists of the 20th century.” Khan wrote:
“Donald Trump is just one of the most egregious examples of a growing global threat. The far right is on the rise around the world, threatening our hard-won rights and freedoms and the values that have defined our liberal, democratic societies for more than seventy years.”
Khan’s criticism also included denouncing Trump for meddling with Britain’s internal politics as race to replace Theresa May as PM hots up in the Conservative party cadres.
Criticism of May and endorsement of Boris Johnson
Trump has also heavily come down on exiting UK PM May in his recent interviews. He criticized May’s approach to the Brexit negotiations.
Furthermore, he has backed Boris Johnson as potential successor to Theresa May. He also dived into the Brexit mess, opining that Brexit leader Nigel Farage should be Britain’s top negotiator with the EU.
Meanwhile at home, Trump faces intensifying trade wars amid congressional investigations and calls for impeachment gathering pace.
