Former US President Donald Trump landed in Europe this week. Initially, at Windsor Castle, he was given a red carpet welcome from the Prince and Princess of Wales. That’s what makes this visit such a big deal for Trump. He hasn’t completely forgotten his UK connections, given his Scottish ancestry. It is of course enormously important for the British monarchy, as King Charles III hosted the former president during a politically fraught time in the United States.
The visit began with a spectacular military ceremonial welcome. It came with a stunning spectacle of 120 horses and 1,300 personnel from the British Armed Forces. It seems that inside Windsor Castle, Trump received a very different kind of welcome. Trump and his wife, Melania Trump, were welcomed by Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, to the charming Walled Garden. The visit served to remind of the traditional flourish that can characterize royal engagement. Meanwhile across the protest, opposition groups in London organized to make protest a day of activism and mobilization.
A Royal Welcome
Trump’s recent visit to Windsor Castle had not one but two royal receptions, including an opulent carriage ride with King Charles III. The two leaders’ military salutes during the playing of the US national anthem underscored the longstanding military ties between the two countries. Trump’s visit to the UK was unique for two reasons. He owns two golf resorts there, and his mother was born in Scotland.
While living in the castle, he took to Twitter to announce how hospitable his new digs had been. What moved him most, he shared, “A lot of things here warm my heart. This sentiment seemed to resonate with the royal family’s efforts to extend an olive branch despite the strained relationship Trump maintains with London’s Mayor, Sadiq Khan.
Khan has previously commented on Trump’s influence, asserting that he has “perhaps done the most to fan the flames of divisive, far-right politics around the world in recent years.” This context only deepens the contradictory scene as Trump visits and meets with the most important UK officials.
Protests Erupt
It looks like he got the royal treatment for his visit. It especially ran up against a fierce pushback by the “Stop the Trump Coalition” that organized massive protests in London. Demonstrators marched with creative and provocative expressions of dissent, including a baby Trump inflatable that’s generated global headlines and debate. Protesters expressed their worries about the damage Trump has done to the US political legacy and his dividing nature as a world figure.
According to Lynn Iliffe, who spoke on behalf of the coalition’s members, the coalition members were not happy with Trump’s handling of opponents. She stated, “Trump doesn’t want to see any opposition. You know, that’s just what he’s about, isn’t it?” This one quote perfectly summarizes the collective fears of everyone uncomfortable with the direction of Trump’s policy, nationalism, and hate, surprise, surprise.
The protests themselves drew sharply contrasting views on the state of Trump’s presidency. Perhaps more importantly, they highlighted his enduring impact on the modern political landscape, both here in the US and around the globe.
Future Engagements
On Friday, Trump is set to meet with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Highly confidential This important meeting should happen on the second day of his visit at Chequers. This meeting will help you address the big questions facing US-UK relations right now. It will dive into some key geopolitical issues that have developed since the Trump era.
The disgraced ex-president is on a grand tour of arcane tributes matched with unflinching, vocal opposition. His homecoming to the United Kingdom underscores his deeper ties of friendship and mentorship and the intricate, fractious world of geopolitics today — rife with conflict and division.
