Trump arrives in Britain for unprecedented second state visit

LONDON – US President Donald Trump landed in Britain on Sept 16 for an unprecedented second state visit, with the British government rolling out a royal red carpet welcome to win over the mercurial leader.

The 79-year-old Republican and his wife Melania received a guard of honour as they stepped off Air Force One at Stansted Airport near London.

“It’s going to be a very big thing,” Mr Trump told reporters during the flight.

Mr Trump, who has long been fascinated by the British monarchy, is the first US president to be invited for two state visits, after previously being hosted by Queen Elizabeth II during his previous term in office in 2019.

King Charles III will host Mr Trump at Windsor Castle for a lavish banquet and carriage ride on Sept 17, before Mr Trump meets Prime Minister Keir Starmer at his country residence on Sept 18.

“Charles, as you know, who’s now king, is my friend,” Mr Trump told reporters at the White House earlier. “He’s such an elegant gentleman and he represents the country so well.”

Security is tight

for the visit and the setting at Windsor Castle means Mr Trump will be far away from crowds, with his schedule due to avoid London, where a large anti-Trump demonstration has been called on Sept 17.

But several dozen demonstrators, holding anti-Trump signs and chanting slogans, rallied in Windsor’s High Street in the shadow of the castle, late on Sept 16.

A Palestinian flag and a Canadian flag were among the placards held aloft.

‘Beyond disappointed’

“I am beyond disappointed,” Michelle, 32, head of marketing for an agency who declined to give a surname, told AFP of the UK rolling out the red carpet.

She held a “Fascists not welcome” sign. “I am beyond frustrated. I’m beyond upset,” she said.

“Donald Trump as a person is, I feel, like fuelling a lot of the far right protests that we’re already having here. It’s a humungous problem.”

The scale of the British state visit is unprecedented, featuring the first joint fly-past by US and UK fighter jets at such an event and the largest guard of honour.

It reflects the British government’s desire to use the soft power of the British royals to keep Mr Trump onside, despite his unpredictability over everything from tariffs to Ukraine and Gaza.

The question is whether the bid to dazzle and flatter Mr Trump will work.

Mr Trump indicated that the embattled Mr Starmer will still have his work cut out as Britain seeks to put

the finishing touches on a deal

to avoid the US President’s sweeping global tariffs.

“They want to see if they can refine the trade deal a little bit,” Mr Trump said.

Controversies over sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, free-speech culture wars and Mr Starmer’s political troubles at home could also make for some awkward moments.

Mr Trump may, however, relish a chance to escape a turbulent period at home, where

the killing of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk

has caused deep turmoil.

The visit is “a huge moment for both” men, said Ms Evie Aspinall, director of the British Foreign Policy Group think-tank.

“For Trump, the state visit is an opportunity to revel in the pomp and ceremony he loves,” she told AFP.

“For Starmer, the visit is a chance to distract from domestic discontent and shift the limelight onto international issues where he has had greater success.”

‘Unbreakable friendship’

Mr Starmer desperately needs the visit to go well following a miserable few days in which some of his own Labour party members have openly questioned whether he can remain as leader.

He has been dogged by questions over his judgment in appointing

the now-sacked Peter Mandelson

as ambassador to Washington, despite his known friendship with the late Epstein.

Mr Trump is facing awkward scrutiny himself over

his own links

to the convicted sex offender, and protesters projected giant images of the pair onto Windsor Castle as the President headed to central London by helicopter.

But Downing Street has said Mr Trump’s visit would see the “unbreakable friendship” between the countries “reach new heights”.

The two nations are set to sign a raft of agreements worth £10 billion (S$17.4 billion) on nuclear and technology projects. AFP