TRUMP IN UK STORM
President to ‘meet the Queen in Scotland’ to avoid mass protests
DONALD Trump could meet the Queen and Theresa May at Balmoral to avoid mass protests overshadowing his first visit as US President.
Officials are looking at whether to stage some or all of the July 13 trip away from London amid fears of violent demonstrations.
Mr Trump will hold talks with Mrs May, in a boost for the special relationship, officials confirmed yesterday.
But opponents immediately announced plans to take to the streets, with tens of thousands pledging to attend protests.
As a result, the President may meet the Queen at either Balmoral or Windsor – although it will not be a state visit.
The Daily Mail revealed on Saturday that the long-planned event would take
place in July and that Mr Trump would meet the Prime Minister in No10 or at her country retreat, Chequers in Buckinghamshire.
Yesterday, Mrs May’s spokesman said: ‘The President of the United States will visit the UK on July 13. He will hold bilateral talks with the Prime Minister during his visit.’
The announcement will come as a boost for relations between London and Washington after a series of clashes between Mrs May and Mr Trump. He was first invited to Britain when he took office last year, but the visit was delayed amid fears of mass demonstrations.
Yesterday, critics wasted no time in announcing they would hold huge protests. Guardian commentator and Jeremy Corbyn ally Owen Jones tweeted: ‘Official: Donald Trump is coming to Britain on Friday 13th July. EVERYBODY OUT ON THE STREETS!’
More than 30,000 people have already confirmed on Facebook that they will attend a protest hosted by a campaign group calling itself Stop Trump.
Lib Dem deputy leader and East Dunbartonshire MP Jo Swinson said her party would be ‘front and centre’ of demonstrations, adding: ‘The Government has made the right decision to cancel Trump’s state visit but this scaled-down trip must not be met with scaled-down protests. Protesting against a man with dangerous, misogynistic and racist views is our responsibility.’
Amnesty International UK director Kate Allen said: ‘When Donald Trump arrives on these shores, we and thousands of our supporters will very definitely be making our voices heard.’
The president is expected to attend a Nato summit in Brussels on July 11 and 12 and travel to the UK afterwards.
Mr Trump is said to have expressed an interest in playing a round of golf at the Queen’s nine-hole course at Balmoral. UK ministers are said to have discussed such plans.
Last night, a Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘Scotland has deep and longstanding ties of family, friendship and business with the United States, which will continue to endure.
‘At the same time, we will not compromise our fundamental values of equality, diversity and human rights and we expect these values to be made clear during the presidential visit to the UK.’
Michelle Kosinski of CNN tweeted: ‘British govt working on plans to possibly keep Trump’s big meetings OUTSIDE of London during his July visit, to minimise inevitable protests.’
Ben Harris-Quinney, chairman of the Bow Group Tory think-tank, said: ‘It is important the people of the United States and its government know there are many in Britain who strongly support the president and the special relationship, and wish for President Trump to be afforded the warmest of welcomes. Sadly, that will not be the case in London.’
Mrs May was among the first foreign leaders to visit Mr Trump in the White House after he took office, but he has so far not reciprocated.
The relationship between the pair has suffered since then and he pulled out of a working visit in February to open the new US embassy in London. Mr Trump infuriated the Prime Minister after sharing anti-Muslim propaganda from far-Right group Britain First, earning a rebuke from her.
Former US president George W Bush faced protests when he visited in 2003, though millions of pounds were spent on security to protect him from demonstrators.
Protests erupted when Mr Trump visited Paris in July last year, although the visit was not affected.
Trump visit back ON! Daily Mail, April 21