Trump vows ‘great’ trade deal with UK
He praises May hours after his criticism of her post-Brexit plans
President Donald Trump said yesterday the US and Britain could secure a “great” post-Brexit trade deal, lavishing praise on Prime Minister Theresa May and contradicting his own withering assessment of her strategy publicised hours earlier.
Trump shocked Britain’s political establishment when he criticised May’s plans for ties with the EU after the UK leaves in March. But, as the two leaders stood together for a press conference in May’s official residence Chequers, Trump said the British leader
was doing a “fantastic job”, added it was up to her how to conduct Brexit, and that a free trade deal was very much on the table. Meanwhile, tens of thousands protested in London against Trump’s visit.
Tens of thousands of protesters demonstrated in London yesterday against US President Donald Trump, whose four-day visit to Britain has been marred by his extraordinary attack on Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit strategy.
“#DumpTrump”, “This is the carnival of resistance” and “My mum doesn’t like you! And she likes everyone” read some of the signs held up by protesters as they marched down Oxford Street towards Trafalgar Square.
“No Trump, fascist USA!”, chanted.
Some protesters banged on pots and pans, others blew on trumpets and many held up orange “Stop Trump” balloons.
“Donald Trump is misogynistic, chauvinistic, homophobic, xenophobic, promotes bigotry... and has tiny little hands!”, said one of the participants, 42-year-old Georgina Rose.
Grant White, 32, carried a sign depicting Trump as the Twitter bird symbol wearing a swastika around his arm. “I am anti-Brexit, anti-Trump. There is a wave of fascism which we have to get rid of,” he said.
Stopping outside May’s residence in Downing Street, protesters whistled and shouted: “Shame on you!”
May was the first foreign leader to visit Trump since his inauguration last year and extended an invitation for him to visit that proved highly controversial. no the
‘Juvenile in charge’
KKK, no protesters
Around 20 drag artists joined the protest, starting out from Soho — the historic heart of Britain’s gay community — in flamboyantly colourful attire.
“I think he’s just such a poor representation of what America has to give to the world,” said Joey ‘Bourgeoisie’ Frenette, 27, who moved to Britain eight years ago from Washington DC.
He added he felt compelled to protest after seeing images ■ ■ of caged children in the US as a result of Trump’s immigration policies.
Choreographer Joshua Hubbard was strutting his displeasure at the president in kneehigh red boots, a cravat and plenty of facial make-up. “He’s perpetuated so many stigmas,” he said as he marched. Londoners not protesting and stopping to take in the mass of people, placards and sloganeering seemed supportive of the demonstrations.
“He brings it on himself — it’s like having a juvenile in charge of a superpower,” said PROTESTERS SAY... construction worker Dan Kelly, 47. Campaigners elsewhere in London flew a ‘Baby Trump’ balloon, an act of protest approved by London mayor Sadiq Khan which has proved particularly contentious for Trump and his supporters.
Dan Kelly