Donald Trump has told Theresa May he won’t come to the UK on a state visit “until the British public supports him coming”, according to a Guardian report but apparently claimed as ‘false’ by the White House..
This probably ensures protests against him visiting.
It’s not a good time for him to visit the UK anyway, there’s enough turmoil there as it is without him stirring things up more.
The Guardian: Donald Trump’s state visit to Britain put on hold
Donald Trump has told Theresa May in a phone call he does not want to go ahead with a state visit to Britain until the British public supports him coming.
The US president said he did not want to come if there were large-scale protests and his remarks in effect put the visit on hold for some time.
That’s an open invitation for protests and threats of protests if Trump says they will keep him out of the UK.
The conversation in part explains why there has been little public discussion about a visit.
May invited Trump to Britain seven days after his inauguration when she became the first foreign leader to visit him in the White House. She told a joint press conference she had extended an invitation from the Queen to Trump and his wife Melania to make a state visit later in the year and was “delighted that the president has accepted that invitation”.
Many senior diplomats, including Lord Ricketts, the former national security adviser, said the invitation was premature, but impossible to rescind once made.
The acting US ambassador to the UK, Lewis Lukens, a career diplomat, clashed with Trump last week by praising Sadiq Khan, the London mayor, for his strong leadership over the London Bridge and Borough Market terror attack.
His remarks came just days after Trump criticised Khan for his response to the attack, misquoting the mayor’s message to Londoners not to be alarmed by the increased presence of armed police.
Khan’s office pointed out Trump’s error later but the president responded by accusing London’s mayor of making a “pathetic excuse”. Khan then called on the UK government to cancel Trump’s invitation. No date had been fixed for the visit.
Jenna Johnson, a Washington Post reporter tweeted to say that the White House press secretary had told her the Guardian’s report was “false” but added that the White House “won’t say when Trump plans to go to the UK”.
Now is not a good time anyway. May and the UK have enough of their own problems to deal with.
Whether the claim that Trump said he won’t visit if there are protests is true or not it probably guarantees protests if any visit is scheduled.
Trump is not popular in the US, with RCP average disapproval currently 16% more than approval. He is probably less popular in the UK.
UK’s YouGov ratings for Trump:
- Volume: 3rd Public Figure of 2307 tracked
- Positivity -74: 2,165th Public Figure of 2255 tracked
artcroft
/ June 12, 2017Just in from my contacts in the White House.
Given his aversion to protests Trump has shortlisted the countries he is willing to visit over the next four years.
The list is as follows: Russia
(Re-posted from below)
Kitty Catkin
/ June 12, 2017List of countries Trump can visit and be welcome:
Gezza
/ June 12, 2017Saudi Arabia
Israel
Afghanistan
Pakistan
Somalia
Antarctica
Kitty Catkin
/ June 13, 2017He probably won’t come here if he’s heard that so many people gave Rex T the finger as he drove past.
traveller
/ June 12, 2017Looks like more fake news
MaureenW
/ June 12, 2017Headline should have read “No Date Set for Trump UK Visit”.
The rest is conjecture and bullshit.
traveller
/ June 12, 2017It looks like they agreed to let things settle. I don’t think Theresa will be wanting any distractions for a while. If this IS fake news then the Guardian and contributors are incendiary
Gezza
/ June 12, 2017Well, of course I love him like a drunken uncle, trav, but yep – fake ngus.
artcroft
/ June 12, 2017The faker the better.
MaureenW
/ June 12, 2017I think you’re on the wrong side of the fake news Artcroft.
lurcher1948
/ June 12, 2017Grow a spine trump, you whimp,you sound like a cry baby.
Kitty Catkin
/ June 13, 2017Don’t ask him where he bought his fur hat, Lurch-that’s his hair.
Gezza
/ June 12, 2017What are the odds he could manage to just slip in quietly? 🤔
Anybody❓
High Flying Duck
/ June 12, 2017Don’t doubt his quietly Gezza. The Don has the best quietly. No-body does quietly better than Trumpy. Some of his best friends are quiet.
lurcher1948
/ June 12, 2017Go to London Trump.they love you there…
Kitty Catkin
/ June 12, 2017The people who voted for Sadiq Khan will welcome you with great enthusiasm.
A bloke called Molotov is making a cocktail in your honour.
NOEL
/ June 12, 2017https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/171928
Pete George
/ June 12, 2017It’s not just the UK that Trump seems to be avoiding for fear of protests.
NOEL
/ June 12, 2017Get his security people to ask that the British Government park some big red buses between him and the protesters. Worked here for the Chinese
Kitty Catkin
/ June 13, 2017What size are his feet ? Or are concrete gumboots ‘one size fits all’ ?