Trump finalises plans for a ‘working visit’ to UK later this year
● Davos meeting with May secures UK trip in second half of this year
Prime Minister Theresa May shakes hands with Donald Trump after the pair ironed out a plan for the US president to come to the UK later this year. Talks took place on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland.
Donald Trump will visit the UK later this year, Downing Street confirmed following talks between the US president and Theresa May.
After months of speculation about what could be the most controversial visit by a US president in history, a spokesman for the Prime Minister said officials had been asked to prepare for Mr Trump’s arrival before the end of 2018.
Downing Street did not confirm whether a full state visit, including an audience with the Queen, would take place.
Balm oral has been suggested as a possible venue for a state visit, allowing Mr Trump to avoid mass protest in a major city and potentially visit one of his golf resorts in Scotland.
The two leaders agreed to finalise details of a visit during talks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Mr Trump has previously refused to come to the UK unless a positive reception could be guaranteed, and cancelled a working visit to open the US Embassy in London.
Politicians including London mayor Sadiq Khan have said the US president is not welcome in the UK, with campaigners accusing Mr Trump of racism over his crackdown on immigration from Muslim-majority countries, plans to build a wall along the Mexican border, and reluctance to condemn violence by white supremacists.
A Downing Street spokesman said: “The Prime Minister updated the president on the good progress which had been made in the Brexit negotiations so far. The two leaders reiterated their desire for a strong trading relationship post-brexit.
“The PM and president concluded by asking officials to work together on finalising the details of a visit by the president to the UK later this year.”
Liberal Democrat deputy leader Jo Swinson said she would seek to lead public opposition to the visit, saying: “Trump is a dangerous, misogynistic racist and is deserving of the protests he will undoubtedly face.”
Labour MP Chuka Umunna condemned Mrs May’s “desperate” pursuit of a post-brexit trade deal with the US.
He said: “A trade deal with Donald Trump’s America would mean lowering our food and animal welfare standards, and being cowed into importing hormone injected beef and other monstrosities.
“The Prime Minister should stop running after a desperate deal with ‘The Donald’ and instead focus on keeping the UK as close as possible to the EU, our largest trade partner.”