Trump snub shows the danger of lame-duck PM
No private meeting between the president and the Prime Minister was an opportunity missed
commissioned silver box with a handcrafted enamel lid.
The Trumps then went for tea at Clarence House with Charles and Camilla, before being met by the Duke of York on a visit to Westminster Abbey where the president laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. In a gesture that carries a significant political message, the Prime Minister will give Mr Trump a framed draft of the agreement b et ween former US president Franklin Ro o - s eve lt and Churchill when they met in Newfoundland in early August 1941.
Ahead of bilateral talks, Mrs May and the president will also view a rare copy of the American Declaration of Independence held at the West Sussex Record Office.
The Sussex declaration is one of only two copies of the historic document written on parchment, with the other held by the US National Archives.
The wheels of Air Force One were barely on the Stansted tarmac when it
began.
Receiving the honour of a state visit as perhaps only he could, Donald Trump took to Twitter to take aim at “stone cold loser” London mayor Sadiq Khan on his arrival in the capital.
Presumably he was just waiting to connect to the free airport Wi-fi to launch the tirade.
Angry tweet dispatched, from there you would expect Mr Trump to be somewhat occupied as the red carpet was rolled out and the pomp and ceremony began. Unbelievably, though, he appeared to use some downtime before meeting the Queen to watch TV and berate both “fake news” CNN and China.
Of course it is no less than what we have come to expect from the current leader of the Free World and unlikely to unduly disturb any of the recipients of the latest ire.
But it is yet another insight into the unpredictable and childish character with whom the UK must seek to somehow preserve a special relationship as the spectre of a no-deal Brexit continues to loom large.
Theresa May understands this – her gift to the Donald of a copy of the Atlantic Charter being a subtle hint to the president ahead of trade negotiations between the US and the UK.
But Donald doesn’t do subtle. He is the self-styled dealmaker and has no interest in those who can no longer pull the strings.
The rumoured removal of a oneto-one meeting with the Prime Minister from the schedule has been seen as a major snub to May.
It most certainly was but, to be fair, also understandable.
Anything agreed between the pair now would be entirely meaningless as May looks towards the exit door. It is the next prime minister who will have to plot a route out of the Brexit impasse and work out how on Earth to deal with the White House. This was an opportunity missed certainly and shows the inherent danger of operating with a lame-duck PM.
The current field of 13 candidates for the Tory leadership does not suggest a quick and easy transition, but this must not be allowed to drag on. The country and business needs certainty in its highest office, and needs it badly.
Donald Trump on the other hand needs to be kept occupied and away from social media for the rest of his stay.