US President Donald Trump is set to arrive in the UK for his second state visit on Tuesday, an unprecedented gesture for an American leader. He will stay in windsor-northern-ireland-2/”>windsor/”>Windsor until Thursday, when he and First Lady Melania Trump will head to england/chequers/”>Chequers to meet Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and his wife, Lady Starmer.
Protests Planned Against Trump’s Visit
Although President Trump will not visit Parliament, which will be in recess for a party conference session, campaigners plan to demonstrate against what they describe as “our government’s choice to honour a man who is violating human rights in the United States and around the world.”
The Stop Trump Coalition will gather in Portland Place, Centralcentral London, on Wednesday before marching towards Parliament Square. A spokeswoman for the coalition stated, “After seeing the UK’s largest far-right demo this past weekend, it is even more essential to turn out to protest against Donald Trump’s state visit.”
She added, “Starmer’s response to this disgusting display was too little, too late, and now he’s welcoming Trump here to discuss nuclear and tech deals that will help the rich get richer but do nothing for everyday people. We do not want our government to trade away our democracy and decency.”
Security Measures in Place
have indicated that they will be prepared for a potential high-threat incident during Trump’s visit. Armed officers will patrol the streets with Armed Response Vehicles (ARVs) ready to respond if necessary. Police Sergeant Daniel Hatfield stated, “We have considered anything from a low to a high-threat incident, and it’s a very comprehensive security operation as a result.”
Trump and the First Lady were originally scheduled to arrive on Wednesday, September 17, as guests of King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla. They will now arrive at Windsor Castle on the evening of Tuesday, September 16, and depart on Thursday, September 18, after their engagements at Chequers.
Sergeant Hatfield noted, “Every single state visit or policing operation of this nature comes with its own merits, and every operation or plan is constructed individually.” Officers will have access to various equipment, including Tasers and firearms, to ensure security during the visit. Buckingham Palace confirmed that Trump’s first day will have no public-facing events, as he will remain within the private Windsor estate.
