JEERS AND CHEERS AS DONALD TRUMP ARRIVES IN DIVIDED UK
US President’s visit comes amid uncertainty over the shape of Britain’s impending exit from the EU
President Donald Trump began a working visit to Britain on Thursday with the government on alert for attempts by the US leader to intervene in the country’s rolling domestic political crisis.
Mr Trump landed at the residence of the American ambassador before a series of meetings with political leaders and businesses. The Marine One helicopter is being used to ferry Mr Trump to engagements at secluded stately palaces, including Blenheim, the birthplace of Winston Churchill, and Windsor Castle, where he will have tea with Queen Elizabeth II.
The itinerary skirts the protests that are expected across the UK during his four-day trip, with tens of thousands ready to take to the barricades to show their anger over his views on divisive issues such as migration.
Mr Trump is expected to spend much of the time outside the capital and will also meet underfire Prime Minister Theresa May. Leaving Brussels after Nato talks, Mr Trump said: “I think they like me a lot in the UK.”
Yet, amid the outcry and uproar, a hard core of British supporters rallied behind the US president, welcoming his support for their views. As Britain begins steps towards leaving the European Union, right-wing politicians and activists who support Mr Trump have become increasingly vocal.
In the halls of Westminster, on a day where politicians began to hammer out the details of the country’s post-Brexit relationship with Europe, the Bow Group think tank gathered together a number of prominent voices who support Mr Trump and condemn the protests against him.
There is no British figure who enjoys a closer relationship with the US president than Nigel Farage, the former leader of the UK Independence Party. The audience was filled with men, many with identical slicked-back hairstyles and double-breasted suits, who appreciatively applauded the Brexit kingpin.
“The US spilt blood for us before and has always been one of our closest allies,” Mr Farage said. “Bravo to Trump for restoring faith in the nation state.”
In a reference to former US president Barack Obama, he said: “For eight years we had a man who didn’t respect us. Trump is different,” Mr Farage said to the nodding heads.
At the discussion, the media and the left were attacked for anti-Trump views, and the election of a populist government in Italy was also referred to.
“Brexit, Trump, Italy – times are changing, but some on the liberal left are doing anything to denigrate these being democratic elections.
“Our schools and universities are, quite frankly, teaching a doctrine of hate.
“There’s a ‘correct’ view, but anything else is ‘hate’,” Mr Farage said.
In the room was a mood of positivity towards Mr Trump, with those present insisting he remained very welcome in the UK.
To many, protesters who have grabbed the headlines “simply had nothing better to do”.
An invited Republican representative, Erica Miller, expressed her disgust.
“I feel embarrassed for London,” she said in reference to the marches organised for Saturday. As news filtered in that Mr Trump wanted Nato members to commit to spending at least 2 per cent of their GDP on defence, Bow Group attendees stood up, cheered and applauded.
Pro-Brexit Conservative MP Daniel Kawczynski said: “We will celebrate President Trump’s visit. The relationship must remain important, especially in trade and defence.”
But for Mr Farage there were fears the special relationship was not in a good place, and he accused Mrs May of pursuing a soft Brexit and endangering future US trade deals.
“It’s going to be a tense and difficult time,” he said. “To my American friends, you need to stay patient. It is only a matter of time – the forces that caused Brexit remain.”
The US leader was greeted at Stansted airport on arrival by Liam Fox, the International Trade Secretary and a noted follower of American politics, in a signal of British interest in striking a new trade partnership with the US alongside the continuing European relationship. Speaking in Brussels, Mr Trump hinted that he saw Britain’s most recent offer to the EU as a step in the wrong direction.
“I would say Brexit is Brexit,” Mr Trump said. “The people voted to break it up so I imagine that is what they would do, but maybe they’re taking a different route. I’m not sure that’s what they voted for.”
We will celebrate President Trump’s visit. The relationship must remain important, especially in trade and defence DANIEL KAWCZYNSKI Conservative MP