UK LOOKING TO USE ROYAL AFFECTION
Over the course of the visit, Britain is hoping to turn Trump’s affection for the UK, his mother came from Scotland, and admiration for the royals into concrete results.
Companies including Microsoft, Nvidia, Google and OpenAI have pledged £31 billion (US$42 billion) in investment over the next few years, in areas such as AI, quantum computing and civil nuclear energy.
Starmer also wants further progress on trade, after Britain secured its first tariff-cutting deal with Trump earlier this year. Talks may touch on remaining levies on steel, whisky and salmon.
“The United Kingdom was your partner in the first trade deal of your administration, Mr President, bringing jobs and growth to both our countries,” King Charles said in his speech. “And no doubt we can go even further as we build this new era of our partnership.”
HEAVY SECURITY AND PROTESTS
Trump is the first US president invited for two state visits, after previously being hosted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2019.
But the British public will be kept at a distance, with events staged behind closed doors and under heavy security.
A large anti-Trump protest has been called in London on Wednesday. On Tuesday night, demonstrators projected images of Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein onto Windsor Castle.
The Epstein scandal has dogged Trump in recent weeks and also entangled Starmer, who dismissed his ambassador to Washington, Peter Mandelson, over emails with Epstein just before the visit.
Despite the controversy, Starmer’s government is betting that the scale of the state visit will win Trump’s favour, despite his unpredictable stances on tariffs, Ukraine and Gaza.
