LONDON - Thousands of people marched through London on Wednesday to protest against US President Donald Trump's state visit to the UK, while a much smaller crowd gathered outside the Royal Windsor Castle west of the capital to give him a warm welcome.
Trump made an unprecedented second state visit to Britain and was honoured with displays of royal pomp, including a carriage procession at Windsor and a spectacular military parade. Meanwhile, 40km away in central London, a "Trump Not Welcome" protest was organised by the Stop Trump Coalition and supported by other organisations including pro-Palestinian activists. "I simply don't like everything that Trump and his administration represent around the world. (They are) absolutely horrible," said Bryan Murray, a retiree who attended with his wife and held a banner that read "Get rid of Trump."
An unlikely friendship
Although British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has struck up an unlikely friendship with Trump, the president continues to divide public opinion. A YouGov poll showed that 45 percent of respondents thought inviting Trump was the wrong move, while 30 percent said it was the right move. On Tuesday, four people were arrested after footage of Trump and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was screened at Windsor Castle - an issue that could arise during the visit after Starmer recalled his US ambassador last week over links to Epstein.
More than 1,600 police officers were deployed to the protest, which moved peacefully to Parliament and carried banners reading "Unwanted here, unwanted nowhere" and "Trump, a great step backwards in human evolution". Police said about 5,000 people attended. A spokesman for the Stop Trump coalition said the demonstration was an opportunity to show the government and the world that "Britain rejects hatred, division and authoritarianism". The turnout on Wednesday was similar to that seen on Trump's previous state visit in 2019, but much lower than on his first official visit to Britain as president in July 2018, when estimates ranged between tens of thousands and 250,000.
Earlier in Windsor, several dozen Trump supporters gathered to see the president arrive at the castle, including one man wearing a hat that read "Trump was right about everything". Trump will meet Starmer on Thursday for talks aimed at focusing the US leader's unprecedented second state visit firmly on global affairs rather than domestic political issues. The US president and Starmer will celebrate the unveiling of a £150 billion ($205 billion) package of US investment in Britain. The deals, which cover areas such as technology, energy and life sciences, will offer a renewal of the so-called "special relationship" between the two nations, something Starmer has worked hard on since Trump became leader in January.
Danger
The meeting is not without danger. Later Thursday, the two leaders will meet for a press conference where reporters will be able to question both about the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Starmer was forced to remove Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the U.S. last week after his close ties to Epstein were documented and Trump's relationship with the late financier came under scrutiny. On Israel, the British leader is under pressure to raise the issue of the Gaza attack with Trump. Trump has expressed frustration with Israeli air strikes against Hamas leaders in Qatar, but has generally supported Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump also criticized some European countries for their decision to recognize a Palestinian state as a "reward to Hamas," though he told reporters he was fine with Starmer "taking a stand."
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