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Trump’s State Visit to Britain Is Set Trump’s State Visit to Britain, Long Delayed, Now Has a Date
(32 minutes later)
LONDON — Britain plans to welcome President Trump in June with the formality of a state visit, Buckingham Palace announced on Tuesday, two and a half years after first extending the invitation. LONDON — Britain plans to welcome President Trump with the formality of a state visit in June, Buckingham Palace announced on Tuesday, two and a half years after first extending the invitation.
Prime Minister Theresa May conveyed the invitation for a state visit to Mr. Trump when he took office in 2017, and he accepted. But it became an on-again, off-again arrangement that came to reflect the hesitation and awkwardness that has characterized relations between the two leaders. Mrs. May, in need of a strong partner for her country after Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union, has nonetheless disagreed on several occasions with the American president. Prime Minister Theresa May first conveyed the invitation for a state visit to Mr. Trump when he took office in 2017. Mr. Trump accepted, but it became an on-again, off-again arrangement that came to reflect the hesitation and awkwardness that has characterized relations between the two leaders. Mrs. May’s enthusiasm for a visit is partly because of her country’s need for strong bilateral partnerships after Brexit.
Mr. Trump traveled to Britain last year on a working visit, a downgrade from his original plans. The trip included meeting Queen Elizabeth II but not the honor of a full state visit, which usually includes ceremonies, government meetings, a ballroom banquet and other public engagements.Mr. Trump traveled to Britain last year on a working visit, a downgrade from his original plans. The trip included meeting Queen Elizabeth II but not the honor of a full state visit, which usually includes ceremonies, government meetings, a ballroom banquet and other public engagements.
A formal invitation for a state visit, issued by the monarch on the advice of the government, is among the heaviest tools in Britain’s diplomatic arsenal. Delegations are invited to stay for several days, and the visits often include meetings with the government and other public engagements. Before Mr. Trump, Barack Obama and George W. Bush were the only two American presidents who had been invited to Britain for a full state visit. The president and first lady accepted the invitation, the White House said in an emailed statement on Tuesday. During his visit, Mr. Trump will meet the queen and hold talks with the British prime minister, the statement added.
The date of the visit will coincide with events for the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy in 1944. Mrs. May said in a statement on Tuesday that the state visit was “an opportunity to strengthen our already close relationship in areas such as trade, investment, security and defense, and to discuss how we can build on these ties in the years ahead.”
On June 5, the president will take part in events in Portsmouth, on the south coast of England, for the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy, the White House said, adding that the next day, Mr. and Mrs. Trump would travel to France at the invitation of President Emmanuel Macron.
A formal invitation for a state visit, issued by the monarch on the advice of the government, is among the heaviest tools in Britain’s diplomatic arsenal. Before Mr. Trump, Barack Obama and George W. Bush were the only two American presidents who had been invited to Britain for a full state visit.
Mr. Trump mostly avoided London on his last visit, when protesters made it clear that he would not be welcome in the capital.Mr. Trump mostly avoided London on his last visit, when protesters made it clear that he would not be welcome in the capital.
John Bercow, the speaker of the House of Commons, has said that he will not allow Mr. Trump to address Parliament, as other leaders, including Mr. Obama, President Xi Jinping of China and former President Nelson Mandela of South Africa have done. John Bercow, the speaker of the House of Commons, has said that he will not allow Mr. Trump to address Parliament, as other leaders, including Mr. Obama, President Xi Jinping of China and former President Nelson Mandela of South Africa, have done.
A former head of the British Navy, Lord West, said that, considering the occasion, President Trump should be allowed to address Parliament.A former head of the British Navy, Lord West, said that, considering the occasion, President Trump should be allowed to address Parliament.
“Many Americans gave their lives on D-Day and beyond, and it would be disgraceful not to allow President Trump to speak,” he told The Daily Telegraph on Friday.“Many Americans gave their lives on D-Day and beyond, and it would be disgraceful not to allow President Trump to speak,” he told The Daily Telegraph on Friday.
Mayor Sadiq Khan of London, who has been a target of Mr. Trump’s scorn, allowed protesters to fly a giant orange balloon of the president depicted as a baby in a diaper over the city during the American president’s visit last year.Mayor Sadiq Khan of London, who has been a target of Mr. Trump’s scorn, allowed protesters to fly a giant orange balloon of the president depicted as a baby in a diaper over the city during the American president’s visit last year.
In 2017, Mr. Khan supported a petition that called for the government to disinvite the president. The petition gathered more than 1.8 million signatures.In 2017, Mr. Khan supported a petition that called for the government to disinvite the president. The petition gathered more than 1.8 million signatures.
Mr. Khan said the president’s “ban on people from seven Muslim-majority countries” and his decision to block refugees from entering the United States meant he should not be afforded a state visit. At that time, Mr. Khan said the president’s “ban on people from seven Muslim-majority countries” and his decision to block refugees from entering the United States meant he should not be afforded a state visit.
“In those circumstances, we shouldn’t be rolling out the red carpet,” Mr. Khan said.“In those circumstances, we shouldn’t be rolling out the red carpet,” Mr. Khan said.