RING OF STEEL FOR TRUMP’S UK TOUR
»»150 US agents on way »»Security bill tops €30m
MORE than 150 agents are heading over to the UK for Donald Trump’s visit, America’s most expensive security operation there.
The bill for protecting the US President, who starts his three-day trip next Thursday, is expected to exceed €30million between both countries.
Downing Street has approved America’s largest contingent of secret service agents, a handful armed with handguns.
Up to 10,000 police officers will also be on duty throughout the most controversial US Presidential visit. MI5 is monitoring potential lone-wolf attackers and underground political opponents.
Mass protests are planned nationally as part of a Stop Trump “carnival of resistance” and 50,000 people are expected in London on Friday.
A senior security source said: “This Melania and President Trump
visit has been planned for a long time, from heavily armed police and plainclothes special forces, to a secondary high-readiness force and RAF Chinooks sat on the edge of the capital.
“The US are pouring resources into the UK in what will be their biggest-ever security operation to this country.
“Trump is probably the most divisive US President to come to the UK. He faces multiple threats, that is why the operation to protect him is so vast.” The first of his bodyguards arrived last week at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk to liaise with UK counter-terrorist officers.
They flew over on a Super Galaxy C5, one of the largest military planes, which carried armoured vehicles including The Beast, Trump’s €1.5million Cadillac.
He and wife Melania will fly into Stansted Airport, Essex, on Air Force One on Thursday evening as the Nimitz-class US Navy carrier USS Harry S Truman sails into position off the south coast.
It will carry twin-rotor Osprey V22 aircraft and Black Hawk helicopters.
The latter, with heavily armed elite troops onboard, are expected to escort Trump’s helicopter to the US ambassador’s residence in Regent’s Park, London.
Later on Thursday he will be driven to Blenheim Palace, Oxon. On Friday he will visit the Prime Minister at Chequers and the Queen at Windsor Castle.
SAS troops will be poised to counter any attack in the capital, with back-up from a 30-strong US special forces unit.
One of the lowest threats will be a 20ft “Trump baby” blimp, paid for via crowdfunding, which London Mayor Sadiq Khan approved to fly over Parliament on Friday in mockery of the president.
He is likely to fly to his Trump Turnberry golf resort in Ayrshire on Saturday.
SO Donald Trump is finally coming to the UK. In doing so, it puts us over a year behind Macron in France, who despite political differences with Trump has forged a strong working relationship with the American President.
We are talking here about a man who is half-british and loves this country. He is the elected President BY
former UKIP Leader
of our closest ally and those who wish to ban him are childish virtue signallers who have gone almost beyond parody. I and many others are pleased to see him come, it’s just a shame it’s not a state visit.