US President Donald Trump is preparing for another state visit to the United Kingdom this week, scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday. This visit is expected to carry as much controversy as his first one in June of 2019.
Trump’s first trip to the UK six years ago was marked by both royal pomp and political drama. Alongside tea with the late Queen Elizabeth II, he publicly labelled London’s Mayor Sadiq Khan “a stone-cold loser”, gave his backing to Boris Johnson in the Tory leadership contest and hinted that the National Health Service (NHS) could be part of the trade negotiations between the two countries.
Protests drew thousands, a petition opposing the visit gathered more than a million signatures, and the famous “Trump Baby” balloon flew over the crowds.
This week’s visit is already attracting demonstrations, while the dismissal of Peter Mandelson as Britain’s ambassador to Washington has cast a shadow over the preparations.
Despite months of planning, senior officials acknowledge that the chances of missteps remain high. The Mandelson affair, they say, is just one of several hazards, reports the BBC.
For royal organisers tasked with arranging the ceremonial events, the challenge has been to stage an occasion that will feel to Trump like a full-scale state visit. At Windsor, military pageantry is being expanded, with 1,300 troops and 120 horses lined up to take part.
While the day is designed to impress, Thursday’s programme at the prime minister’s country retreat, Chequers, is where the business will be conducted. Ministers hope to finalise a deal exempting UK steel and aluminium from American tariffs. Agreements are also expected on nuclear collaboration.
Most notably, leaders aim to sign a technology partnership that will encourage new investment in Britain and deepen cooperation on artificial intelligence and quantum research.
This was a priority for Mandelson. In his farewell message to embassy staff, he called it “my personal pride and joy”, saying it would “help write the next chapter of the special relationship”.
These issues are intended to be showcased as achievements feeding into the government’s growth agenda.
The gathering will also allow UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to have direct discussions with Trump just ahead of the United Nations general assembly in New York, especially on Ukraine.
Yet Mandelson’s removal is unlikely to fade away. The press conference at Chequers may not be dominated by questions about his career, but rather about Starmer’s judgement and why he chose to appoint Mandelson in the first place or sack him so late.
Diplomats also wonder if Trump might comment on who should replace him.
The most pointed question, however, could be why Starmer believes Mandelson deserves consequences for Epstein ties while the American president, sharing the stage with him, does not.
The Mandelson episode is not the only test.
A retired ambassador observed, “On values and policies, we have fundamental differences with the Trump administration – on NATO, Ukraine, Middle East and China,” adding the differences now are wider that any period of time since World War II.
One of the most serious disagreements may centre on the Middle East.
The UK is expected to announce recognition of Palestinian statehood next week, in an attempt to bolster the two-state solution. Washington has made clear its disapproval. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Friday his determination “to fight anti-Israel actions including unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state that rewards Hamas terrorism”.
For Starmer, there are also political stakes at home. Behind the ceremony lies an unspoken bargain: lavish treatment for Trump in exchange for reduced tariffs and investment pledges. Yet public opinion in Britain is unfavourable.
A July survey by YouGov found only 16% of respondents had a favourable view of the US president. The government will need to persuade voters that this visit is justified by potential economic benefits.
Royal officials are uneasy about the Crown being drawn into such calculations.
One royal source commented, “The problem in using the personality of the monarch and the institution of the monarchy is there is a risk that you cross a line, and you ask someone who has to remain studiously non-political to transact a political act on behalf of the government.”
State visits from American presidents are rare events. Only three have taken place before: George W Bush in 2003, Barack Obama in 2011, and Trump in 2019. Most other trips have been classed as informal or official.
