Ahmet Gurhan Kartal
03 June 2019•Update: 05 June 2019
LONDON
U.S. President Donald Trump has started a three-day long state visit to the UK on Monday.
Accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump and his entourage, the president was welcomed at Stansted Airport by Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt amidst strict security measures.
After shortly stopping at the US ambassador’s residence near Regents Park, the American party arrived at the Buckingham Palace where the Queen officially welcomed Trumps.
A gun salute was held in honour of visiting president as historic cannons were fired for 41 times.
After having lunch with the members of the Royal family, Trump was given a tour in the palace before having tea with Prince Charles.
The US president will be given a state banquet Monday evening by the Queen Elizabeth II.
Trump’s visit came days before Prime Minister Theresa May’s departure from the top office after failing in Brexit strategies.
Visiting president is expected to hold talks with the outgoing May and they are expected to discuss post-Bexit UK-US trade relationship among other national and international issues.
Trump will visit Portsmouth during his visit to attend ceremonies marking the 75th anniversary of D-Day.
Controversy
Trump’s visit has been described as the most controversial visit by a U.S. president to the U.K.
Protests have been organized for Tuesday in central London where tens of thousands of people are expected to join a rally in Trafalgar Square.
Trump has already caused controversy prior to his visit after making comments on Brexit - the U.K.’s top agenda item for the past three years – and on country’s domestic politics after giving an open support to former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson who is running for Conservative Party leadership.
He created more controversy when he called London Mayor Sadiq Khan “a stone cold loser” in a tweet he wrote shortly before landing in London.
Sadiq Khan’s office responded shortly after to insulting messages from Trump.
“This is much more serious than childish insults which should be beneath the President of the United States,” a spokesperson for Khan said.
“Sadiq is representing the progressive values of London and our country warning that Donald Trump is the most egregious example of a growing far-right threat around the globe, which is putting at risk the basic values that have defined our liberal democracies for more than 70 years,” the spokesperson added.
Trump also angered pro-EU camp as he said Brexit party leader Nigel Farage should be holding the Brexit negotiations with the EU.
Also being criticized for calling the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle as “nasty” in an interview with a tabloid after learning she was critical about his leadership during his presidential election campaign, Trump is expected to see thousands of people protesting his visit.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan described Trump over the weekend as "just one of the most egregious examples of a growing global threat" and compared the language he had used to that of the "fascists of the 20th century."
Trump had been criticized previously after retweeting anti-Muslim videos from a far-right group called Britain First, a move described by Theresa May as “wrong.”
The invitation by May was extended to Trump during her visit to the U.S. on Jan. 27, 2017, sparking criticism in the U.K. due to the president’s controversial travel ban on seven Muslim-majority countries.
A petition calling on the British government to cancel the invitation was signed by over 1.85 million people last year. It said any official state visit should be axed "because it would cause embarrassment to Her Majesty, the Queen".
It also said Trump's "well documented misogyny and vulgarity" disqualified him from meeting the Queen or other British royals.
The government responded to the parliamentary petition, saying it believed the American leader should "be extended the full courtesy" of an official reception.
Boycott
The state banquet at the Buckingham Palace will be boycotted by various politicians, including Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour Party leader.
London mayor Khan’s Labour Party on Monday said Corbyn has decided to address the anti-Trump protest tomorrow.
“Tomorrow's protest against Donald Trump's state visit is an opportunity to stand in solidarity with those he's attacked in America, around the world and in our own country - including, just this morning, @SadiqKhan,” Corbyn tweeted earlier on Monday in support to London mayor.
The protest organized by various campaign groups is expected to see large numbers of attendance.
