This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jan/25/trump-and-may-discuss-uk-visit-later-this-year-davos

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Donald Trump makes plans with May for UK visit 'later this year' Donald Trump makes plans with Theresa May for UK visit 'later this year'
(about 1 hour later)
After meeting at Davos, US president and British PM ask officials to finalise details of visitAfter meeting at Davos, US president and British PM ask officials to finalise details of visit
Peter WalkerPeter Walker
Thu 25 Jan 2018 16.42 GMT Thu 25 Jan 2018 18.39 GMT
Last modified on Thu 25 Jan 2018 17.17 GMT First published on Thu 25 Jan 2018 16.42 GMT
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
Share via EmailShare via Email
View more sharing optionsView more sharing options
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn
Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
Share on Google+Share on Google+
Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp
Share on MessengerShare on Messenger
CloseClose
Plans are being made for Donald Trump to visit the UK later this year, following his meeting with Theresa May at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Downing Street has said. Donald Trump is set to visit the UK later this year, Downing Street has said, after the US president and Theresa May met in Davos and directed officials to work out details of the trip.
An official description of the talks at the Swiss resort released by No 10 said: “The PM and president concluded by asking officials to work together on finalising the details of a visit by the president to the UK later this year.” News of Trump’s planned visit, which has been delayed several times, was immediately met with calls on social media for demonstrations during the trip.
The readout did not say whether it would be a normal visit or the state visit offered to Trump when May visited him in Washington shortly after his inauguration last year. The decision was made as the pair met at the World Economic Forum. A No 10 description of the talks at the Swiss resort said: “The PM and president concluded by asking officials to work together on finalising the details of a visit by the president to the UK later this year.”
The state visit, which would see extensive ceremony and Trump staying at Buckingham Palace, has been delayed, reportedly amid concerns from Trump and his team that the visit would be met by mass protests in the UK. The statement did not say whether this would be a standard trip, or the full state visit offered to Trump when May visited him in Washington shortly after his inauguration last year. Downing Street declined to say what sort of visit was being planned.
Earlier this month Trump also called off a planned trip to London to open the new US embassy, again believed to be connected to the prospect of protests. The state visit, which would involve extensive ceremony and mean that Trump would stay at Buckingham Palace, had been put off, reportedly due to concerns from the president and his team that it would be met by demonstrations.
Trump claimed on Twitter that he had cancelled the visit because of his displeasure at Barack Obama having sold the old embassy in Grosvenor Square for “peanuts” and built a replacement in Nine Elms, south London. In fact the planned move began when George W Bush was still president. After May criticised Trump in November for retweeting anti-Muslim videos posted by the far-right group Britain First, the relationship had been painted as rocky.
The prospect of Trump visiting the UK has been pushed by Downing Street, which is keen to keep ties with the White House close, not least in the hope it will improve the prospects of a more rapid UK-US trade deal after Brexit. But, earlier on Thursday, Trump sought to portray the pair as close allies, saying they had “a really great relationship”, adding: “I have tremendous respect for the prime minister and the job she’s doing. And I think the feeling is mutual from the standpoint of liking each other a lot.”
However, Trump’s erratic behaviour, nationalist approach and support from the racist far-right have brought the prospect of mass protests when he does arrive, prompting reports that the US president is not keen to come to the UK. In an apparent reference to interpretations of May’s criticism after he retweeted the Britain First propaganda, he said: “That was a little bit of false rumour out there … we love your country because it’s truly great.”
In June, it emerged that Trump had told May in a phone call that he would not carry out the state visit until the British public supported him coming. Since then, Downing Street has said only that the timing for the visit will be announced “in due course”. Trump had been due to come to London this month to open the new US embassy but this was also cancelled.
May herself has had her differences with Trump, being forced late last year to publicly rebuke him after he used Twitter to share propaganda videos from the UK-based far right anti-Islam group Britain First. The decision was believed to have been made because of the prospect of protests, but Trump claimed he had decided to not come because of his displeasure at Barack Obama having sold the old embassy in Grosvenor Square for “peanuts”. In fact, the planned move to Wandsworth began when George W Bush was still president.
Before the pair’s talks in Davos, broadcast comments of Trump and May saw the president deny that there were any tensions in the US-UK relationship. He said: “We’re on the same wavelength in I think in every respect.” Downing Street has been pushing for a visit by Trump despite worries at the reception he could receive. The government hopes closer ties with the White House will improve the prospects of a more rapid UK-US trade deal after Brexit.
The Downing Street description of the talks said they discussed the situation with Bombardier, the aviation firm that has been threatened with the imposition of tariffs by the US. However, Trump’s erratic behaviour, nationalist approach and support from the racist far-right have resulted in promises by numerous groups to protest if he visited the UK, with the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, among those calling for demonstrations.
It added: “The PM and the president discussed Iran, and the need to work together to combat the destabilising activity which it is conducting in the region, including ballistic missile development, and continuing efforts to ensure Iran does not develop nuclear weapons. Before the talks in Davos, May and Trump both played down any tensions. The bilateral relationship was “strong as it ever has been”, May told the BBC. As the pair faced the cameras, Trump said: “We’re on the same wavelength in I think in every respect.”
After the meeting, he tweeted that the talks had been “great”.
Great bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Theresa May of the United Kingdom, affirming the special relationship and our commitment to work together on key national security challenges and economic opportunities. #WEF18 pic.twitter.com/FPP8aRDAyt
Downing Street said the pair discussed the situation with Bombardier, the aviation firm that has been threatened with the imposition of tariffs by the US.
It added: “The prime minister and the president discussed Iran and the need to work together to combat the destabilising activity which it is conducting in the region, including ballistic missile development, and continuing efforts to ensure Iran does not develop nuclear weapons.
“They also agreed on the importance of continuing to stand side-by-side in the fight against Daesh [Islamic State] in Syria and elsewhere.“They also agreed on the importance of continuing to stand side-by-side in the fight against Daesh [Islamic State] in Syria and elsewhere.
“The prime minister updated the president on the good progress which had been made in the Brexit negotiations so far. The two leaders reiterated their desire for a strong trading relationship post-Brexit, which would be in the interests of both countries.”“The prime minister updated the president on the good progress which had been made in the Brexit negotiations so far. The two leaders reiterated their desire for a strong trading relationship post-Brexit, which would be in the interests of both countries.”
Donald TrumpDonald Trump
Davos 2018Davos 2018
Theresa MayTheresa May
Foreign policy
US foreign policy
newsnews
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
Share via EmailShare via Email
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn
Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
Share on Google+Share on Google+
Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp
Share on MessengerShare on Messenger
Reuse this contentReuse this content