Anti-Trump protesters march through London as US leader basks in royal welcome
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A “Baby Trump Blimp” being held aloft during a Stop Trump Coalition protest in London on Sept 17, against US President Donald Trump's state visit to Britain.
PHOTO: EPA
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- Thousands protested Trump's UK visit in London, organised by the Stop Trump Coalition, citing his "awful" global impact.
- A smaller, supportive crowd gathered in Windsor, but four arrests occurred after Epstein images were projected onto the castle.
- Protests saw 5,000 attendees, lower than 2018's visit, showing "Britain rejects hate, division and authoritarianism".
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LONDON/WINDSOR – Thousands marched through London on Sept 17 to protest against US President Donald Trump’s state visit to Britain, while a much smaller crowd gathered outside the royal Windsor Castle west of the capital to give him a warm welcome.
Mr Trump was paying Britain an unprecedented second state visit and was treated to displays of royal pageantry, including a carriage procession in Windsor and a grand military parade.
While all that was happening, a “Trump Not Welcome” protest took place 40km away in central London, organised by the Stop Trump Coalition and supported by other organisations, including Amnesty International, women’s associations such as Abortion Rights and pro-Palestinian activists.
“I quite simply dislike everything that Trump and his administration represent around the globe. (They are) absolutely awful,” said Mr Bryan Murray, a retiree, who attended with his wife and held a placard reading “Dump Trump”.
While British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has struck up an unlikely friendship with Mr Trump, the President still divides public opinion. A YouGov poll showed that 45 per cent thought it was wrong to invite Mr Trump, while 30 per cent said it was the right move.
Four people were arrested sacked his US ambassador
More than 1,600 police officers were deployed to deal with the protest, which moved peacefully towards Parliament and featured banners reading: “Not Wanted Here, Not Wanted Anywhere” and “Trump, a big step back on the evolution of man”.
The police said around 5,000 people took part.
A spokesperson for the Stop Trump Coalition said the rally was a chance to show the government and the world that “Britain rejects hate, division and authoritarianism”.
(From left) Britain’s King Charles, Queen Camilla, US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump taking part in a ceremonial event at Windsor Castle on Sept 17.
PHOTO: REUTERS
The turnout on Sept 17 was similar to that seen for Mr Trump’s previous state visit in 2019 but much lower than for his first official visit to Britain as president in July 2018, when estimates varied between tens of thousands and 250,000.
Earlier in Windsor, a few dozen Trump supporters turned out to see the US leader arrive at the castle, including one man wearing a cap that read: “Trump was right about everything.”
Former New York police officer Steven DeFranco, 64, said he knew he had to make a stop at Windsor during his business trip when he heard Mr Trump was coming.
“He’s doing a fabulous job,” Mr DeFranco said, describing Mr Trump as a “beaming light”. REUTERS
