Welcome, Mr Trump

SAY what you like about Donald Trump – and this paper has deep reservations – but amid the bluster he sometimes speaks robust (if undiplomatic) sense.

Take his attack on the Berlin government for pumping billions into the Russian economy through gas contracts, while expecting America to pick up Nato’s bills for defending Germany from Russia.

Isn’t he right to feel aggrieved for his countrymen – just as he was right to resent the threat to American jobs from China’s dumping of surplus steel on the US market?

Indeed, wouldn’t it be refreshing if in the Brexit talks, our own Government just occasionally spoke up for British interests half as vigorously?

But whatever anyone may think of Mr Trump’s policies or style, he is the elected President of our strongest ally, whose servicemen fought and died shoulder-toshoulder with ours in two World Wars.

The pathetic, infantile protesters who plan to disrupt his visit today (and where were they when mass murderers were accorded State visits to London?) insult his country and the 63million who voted for him.

As for the great majority in Britain, we welcome him – if not necessarily for who he is, then most certainly for the remarkable people he represents.