Barely arrived in London on Monday 3rd May, 2019 for a three-day state visit, the US president, DonaldTrump continued his shattering statements about British politics.
Barely arrived on British soil, Donald Trump continues in the provocation. A few minutes before Air Force One landed, the Republican billionaire set the tone in a tweet by calling the mayor of the British capital, Sadiq Khan, a long-time target of his attacks, “loser total”.
The United Kingdom this Monday 3rd June 2019 rolls out the the red carpet for Donald Trump , expected for a three-day state visit in a context of political crisis that new criticism of the US leader on Brexit may exacerbate.
Donald Trump and his wife Melania will be welcomed at Buckingham Palace for a ceremony followed by a luncheon with Queen Elizabeth II and an official banquet in the evening.
The mayor of London, “a total loser”
But behind the pomp of this reception, the country is in turmoil with a conservative Prime Minister on the run for failing to implement the exit of the European Union, three years after the Brexit referendum.
True to his reputation, the Republican leader did not hesitate to set foot in the dish before his arrival: in interviews with the British press, he criticized the way in which Theresa May led the negotiations with Brussels, recommended to her future successor to leave the EU without agreement and makes the former Foreign Minister Boris Johnson, a supporter of a hard Brexit, his champion to replace it.
He also waved to the populist Nigel Farage, leader of the Brexit Party who won the vote in the European elections . Before crossing the Atlantic, Donald Trump said he “could meet” the two men, with whom he has “very good relations”. “They want a meeting. We will see what will happen, “he said.
These remarks were denounced by Jeremy Corbyn, the head of Labour, Britain’s main opposition party, as “an unacceptable interference in our democracy”.
Monday morning, it is the mayor of London who was once again the target of the tweets avengers of the president.
“Sadiq Khan (…) has made ‘mean’ comments about the US president,” Donald Trump tweeted, saying the “total loser” should focus on fighting crime in London.
On Sunday, Sadiq Khan, the first Muslim mayor of London, told Sky news that the UK was wrong to “roll out the red carpet” to Donald Trump. In The Observer, the mayor of London had also compared some of his remarks to those used by “fascists of the twentieth century.”
.@SadiqKhan, who by all accounts has done a terrible job as Mayor of London, has been foolishly “nasty” to the visiting President of the United States, by far the most important ally of the United Kingdom. He is a stone cold loser who should focus on crime in London, not me……
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 3 June 2019
Live relationship
Like his predecessors, Donald Trump should insist on the Anglo-American “special relationship”. But the latter is under severe strain in several cases, including Iran with the willingness of the United Kingdom to defend the nuclear agreement it has called into question, or the environment.
Washington is also pressuring London to exclude Huawei from its 5G network. Sunday in the Sunday Times , Donald Trump asked London to be “very careful” about the role it intends to give the Chinese telecom giant.
“Our relationship has strengthened the security and prosperity of our countries for years and will continue to do so for generations to come,” said Theresa May, who will receive him at Downing Street Tuesday, a few days after his resignation, June 7, although she will remain in office until the appointment of her successor.
The trade relationship with the United States, which is crucial for the post-Brexit UK, is likely to occupy a large part of their discussion, although some in the United Kingdom fear that it will turn to their disadvantage.
“We have the potential to be an incredible trading partner for the United Kingdom,” promised Donald Trump on Sunday, saying he is ready to negotiate a free trade deal quickly.
Events
As in his previous trip to the United Kingdom in July 2018, which had brought tens of thousands of people to the streets, his visit sparked many calls for demonstrations.
Jeremy Corbyn excluded him from attending the Queen’s banquet, denouncing a president “who tears up vital international treaties, supports the denial of climate change and uses racist and misogynistic rhetoric.”
The end of the presidential visit will focus on the 75th anniversary of the D-Day , with a ceremony in Portsmouth (south of England) Wednesday in the presence of the Queen and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Donald and Melania Trump will then make a brief visit to Ireland before going to Normandy on June 6 for commemorations organized by France.
But from this trip, “in my opinion, what the President looks forward to most is his interactions with the royal family,” said Heather Conley of the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
In the summer of 2018, Donald Trump had tea with the British monarch in Windsor Castle but had not been given all the pomp of a state visit.
A meeting with his compatriot Meghan Markle , wife of Prince Harry, is not on the agenda. The former American actress had criticized Donald Trump during his presidential campaign.
” What can I say ? I did not know she was nasty, “he told the tabloid The Sun , saying however that she could” very well “endorse his new royal role.
