WINDSOR – U.S. President Donald Trump is visiting the United Kingdom for a two-day state visit to demonstrate that the trans-Atlantic alliance remains robust, despite differences concerning Ukraine, the Middle East, and the Western alliance’s future.
King Charles III is hosting Trump at Windsor Castle, where the president will experience the finest royal traditions on Wednesday: horse-drawn carriage rides, honor guards, a grand white-tie banquet, and more.
Trump is the first U.S. president and world leader to be invited for a second state visit to the U.K. Following the royal reception, discussions with Prime Minister Keir Starmer are scheduled for Thursday at Chequers, the British leader’s countryside home.
Here’s the latest:
London’s mayor says Trump fans flames of division
President Donald Trump will largely avoid London during his state visit. And that’s fine by the city’s mayor.
Sadiq Khan wrote in The Guardian newspaper that Trump and his supporters have contributed to “fanning the flames of divisive, far-right politics globally.” He criticized Trump’s mass deportations and deployment of troops to U.S. cities as actions “straight out of the autocrat’s playbook.”
Before a planned protest against the president’s visit on Wednesday, Khan wrote: “Many Londoners are likely to voice their opposition, telling President Trump and his followers that we cannot be split apart by those who wish to instill fear.”
Khan, a member of the Labour Party and the mayor of London since 2016, has exchanged criticisms with Trump since the president’s 2015 campaign promise to bar Muslims from entering the U.S.
In July the president said Khan has “done a terrible job” and is a “nasty person.”
Carriages and a sumptuous state dinner
Hundreds of soldiers, gardeners and chefs are putting the final touches on their preparations to ensure Trump and first lady Melania Trump get the full royal treatment.
After welcoming the Trumps in a formal ceremony, Charles, Queen Camilla and dozens of soldiers will accompany them on a carriage ride through the Windsor estate.
They will return to the castle for military ceremonies featuring hundreds of troops. Trump will be invited to review the guard of honor in scarlet tunics and tall bearskin hats.
The highlight of the visit will be a state banquet later Wednesday at Windsor Castle, where Charles and other royals will join their guests around the massive Waterloo Table.
The mahogany table, which has space for 160 guests, will be laid with the Grand Service — a silver-gilt dining service that includes more than 4,000 pieces ranging from serving dishes to dinner plates and egg cups.
Flags and protests in Windsor
The mood in Windsor was largely festive as the town makes last-minute preparations for Trump’s state visit.
American and U.K. flags are fastened to lamp posts with gold tassels, waving over the heads of tourists weaving their way past the security cordon surrounding the 1,000-year-old castle that will be the center of the ceremonies on Wednesday.
Harry Law, 22, traveled from Folkestone on the south coast of England, hoping to get a glimpse of the man he called “Orange Hair.’’
“You don’t get to see a president every day,’’ he said. “I still haven’t seen our prime minister.’’
About two dozen people gathered late Tuesday near Windsor Castle to protest the visit, chanting “Dump Trump” and “Trump go home.” A larger protest against Trump is planned for Wednesday in central London.
Nvidia, OpenAI bosses are part of US delegation
Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman are expected to be among the business leaders in the U.S. delegation.
Media reports suggest that Nvidea and OpenAI will unveil billions of dollars’ worth of investment into U.K. data centers this week amid Trump’s state visit.
Starmer and Trump are also expected to sign a technology partnership, accompanied by major investments in nuclear energy, life sciences and Artificial Intelligence data centers.
Differences over Ukraine and Gaza
While Starmer has shown he is adept at charming Trump, his efforts to influence the president to maintain U.S. support for Ukraine has had with limited results.
Last week’s Russian drone incursion into NATO member Poland drew strong condemnation from European NATO allies, and pledges of more planes and troops for the bloc’s eastern flank. Trump played down the incident’s severity, musing that it “ could have been a mistake. ”
Starmer also departs from Trump over Israel’s war in Gaza. He has said the U.K. will formally recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations later this month.
Trade talks to feature during visit
On Tuesday Trump told reporters that U.K. officials want to continue trade negotiations during his visit.
“They’d like to see if they can get a little bit better deal, so we’ll talk to them,” he said.
Starmer’s government is keen to secure favorable trade terms with the U.S., the U.K.’s largest single economic partner, accounting for 18% of total British trade.
A May trade agreement reduces U.S. tariffs on Britain’s key auto and aerospace industries. But a final deal has not been reached over other sectors, including pharmaceuticals, steel and aluminum.
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