President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump embarked on their second state visit to the United Kingdom, a two-day event marked by a blend of lavish royal pomp and fervent public demonstrations. The visit commenced with a grand reception at Windsor Castle, where the American leader was welcomed by King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
The initial day’s agenda was steeped in British tradition. The Trumps paid respects by laying a wreath at Queen Elizabeth II’s tomb in St. George’s Chapel, a deeply personal moment for President Trump, who had often expressed admiration for the late monarch. Following this, military bands in full dress uniform performed, and a spectacular flyover by the Royal Air Force’s Red Arrows aerobatic team greeted the president on the castle’s East Lawn. President Trump and King Charles III even enjoyed a horse-drawn carriage ride through the historic Windsor estate, with Queen Camilla and Mrs. Trump following in a separate carriage. The day was set to conclude with a white-tie state dinner at the 900-year-old castle.
During their engagements, the Trumps and the royal couple exchanged gifts. The King and Queen presented President Trump with a leather-bound volume celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the Union Jack that flew over Buckingham Palace. In return, Trump gave the King a replica of a President Eisenhower sword, symbolizing the U.S. and U.K. alliance during World War II, and Queen Camilla received a Tiffany diamond and ruby flower brooch.
This state visit was seen as a strategic effort by the British government to engage with a president perceived as less inclined to uphold the post-World War II global order. It aimed to potentially influence him on critical issues impacting both nations.
In stark contrast to the ceremonial welcome, thousands of demonstrators gathered across central London to voice their strong disapproval of President Trump. Carrying placards that read “Dump Trump,” “Trump for Prison,” and “No to racism, No to Trump,” protesters were vocal outside Parliament and the BBC headquarters. Speakers at the demonstrations included former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and Green Party leader Zack Polanski, who urged a rejection of “politics of hate and division.” Activists also highlighted Mr. Trump’s past associations with Jeffrey Epstein by projecting images onto Windsor Castle and unfurling a massive banner, leading to several arrests.
The visit’s second day will see President Trump travel to Chequers, the Prime Minister’s country estate, for meetings with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, where a joint news conference is anticipated, along with the signing of new deals. Security for the visit has been extensive, reportedly the largest since King Charles III’s coronation, involving drones, snipers, and a heavy police presence to keep the president away from public-facing events.
Economically, the visit is also significant, with major U.S. tech companies like Microsoft, Google, and OpenAI announcing over $40 billion in new investments in British artificial intelligence and data centers. Meanwhile, the long-standing public feud between President Trump and London Mayor Sadiq Khan continued, with Khan accusing Trump of “fanning the flames of divisive, far-right politics.”