President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were formally welcomed to a lavish state dinner at Windsor Castle, marking the start of a visit filled with traditional British pomp and grandeur. King Charles, in his welcoming remarks at the banquet, underscored the enduring ‘special relationship’ between the United States and the United Kingdom, noting how their shared history has fostered generations of safety and strength. He particularly emphasized that ‘Our people have fought and died together for the values we hold dear,’ reflecting on nearly 250 years since the American Declaration of Independence.
Earlier in the day, the President honored Queen Elizabeth II by laying a wreath at her tomb. He then observed a spectacular military ceremony on the castle’s East Lawn, complete with marching bands and a flyover by the Royal Air Force’s Red Arrows acrobatic team, painting the sky with red, white, and blue contrails.
This second state visit, a rare diplomatic gesture, is seen as the British government’s effort to engage with a President whose current administration appears less committed to post-World War II global order, aiming to steer discussions on critical bilateral issues. However, the opulent reception stood in stark contrast to the thousands of demonstrators who gathered in central London. Public opinion polls indicate Mr. Trump’s unpopularity in Britain, and protestors carried signs reading ‘Dump Trump,’ ‘Trump for Prison,’ and ‘No to racism, No to Trump.’ Activists also projected images of the President with Jeffrey Epstein onto Windsor Castle and unfurled a large banner, bringing the ongoing Epstein saga into the spotlight, a topic that has also impacted the British royal family and government figures.
The two-day visit is set to include significant diplomatic and economic discussions. President Trump and Prime Minister Keir Starmer are anticipated to sign several deals and hold a joint news conference on Thursday. Earlier reports indicate that despite calls for lower tariffs on Scottish whisky, a desired cut in steel export tariffs for Britain may not materialize. Meanwhile, US tech giants like Microsoft, Google, and OpenAI are expected to announce over $40 billion in new investments in British artificial intelligence and data infrastructure, strengthening economic and technological ties between the nations.
In an unexpected incident prior to his arrival, a Spirit Airlines pilot was sternly chastised by an air traffic controller for flying too close to Air Force One over Long Island, New York. The controller repeatedly instructed the Spirit pilot to ‘turn 20 degrees right’ and even advised, ‘Get off the iPad.’ While the FAA confirmed that proper separation was maintained, the incident highlighted the heightened security surrounding the presidential travel.
The state banquet itself was an elaborate affair, hosting 160 guests including powerful figures from tech, finance, and media such as Apple CEO Tim Cook and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. The royal household meticulously arranged the 150-foot long table, set with 139 candles and 1452 pieces of cutlery, serving a menu featuring Panna Cotta, Organic Norfolk Chicken Ballotine, and Vanilla Ice Cream Bombe. The music selection for the evening included some of Mr. Trump’s rally favorites, like ‘Nessun Dorma’ and a medley of James Bond themes. Notably, King Charles’s speech touched upon environmentalism, a subject Mr. Trump has often publicly disparaged.
The state visit also renewed a long-standing feud between President Trump and London Mayor Sadiq Khan. Mayor Khan publicly criticized Mr. Trump for ‘fanning the flames of divisive, far-right politics,’ a continuation of their past clashes over immigration and policy. His remarks sharply diverged from the conciliatory tone of Prime Minister Starmer’s government, which aims to cultivate a strong working relationship with the Trump administration for international cooperation and trade. Security for the visit was extensive, described as the largest operation since King Charles III’s coronation, featuring drones, snipers, and mounted police to manage potential threats and keep the President away from public protest areas.