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/politics/live/2019/jun/04/donald-trump-president-visit-uk-press-conference-may-visit-labour-calls-us-president-sexual-predator-and-racist-live-news

The article has changed 25 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Trump urges May to 'stick around' to finalise 'very, very substantial' US-UK trade deal - live news Trump urges May to 'stick around' to finalise 'very, very substantial' US-UK trade deal - live news
(32 minutes later)
According to the Daily Mirror, Boris Johnson, the former foreign secretary and favourite in the contest to succeed Theresa May, has had a “friendly” 20-minute conversation with President Trump. But Johnson turned down an invitation to meet Trump tonight because he is due to attend a private hustings organised by One Nation Tories in the Commons, the Mirror reports.
BREAKING Boris Johnson turns down Donald Trump's personal offer of a face-to-face meetinghttps://t.co/ADQDl1pqX0 pic.twitter.com/YXJajdBR3T
According to Owen Bennett, the journalist who is publishing a biography of Michael Gove next month, Gove was rather more critical of Donald Trump before his election as president than he was when he interviewed him a few weeks later for the Times. (See 12.54pm.)
Little reminder of what Gove said about Trump just days before he was elected: “He's an intemperate, bullying, foul-mouthed panderer with no experience of public service, no record of charitable endeavour and no intention of paying his taxes."https://t.co/ECNujxi5OQ
Judging by the interview that President Trump gave to the Sun and the Sunday Times before he came to the UK, his view of people tends to be shaped to a considerable extent by whether or not they have praised him. (“I think [Boris Johnson would be excellent. I like him. I have always liked him ... He has been very positive about me and our country.”)
On that basis, Trump’s meeting with Michael Gove later (see 10.55am and 12.07pm) is likely to go well. I have been rereading Gove’s write-up of his interview with Trump in January 2017 (paywall) and it’s not exactly a hatchet job. Here’s an extract.
Ever since a Virginia farmer called George Washington launched his bid for glory, the British have had a tendency to underestimate American presidents. Especially Republicans. When Abraham Lincoln was in the White House, our government sympathised with the Confederacy. When Ronald Reagan was commander-in-chief, the British foreign policy establishment derided him as a trigger-happy cowboy who was in danger of pitching us into a third world war.
But no Republican, indeed no president, has come to office facing anything like the level of scorn and condescension from British politicians and commentators as Mr Trump. When we talked last Friday, however, he had nothing but kind words and generous sentiments for a nation he believes will be his strongest ally ...
He’s no Kissinger and you’d no more expect him to discuss Clausewitz and Kennan than set fire to his own hair. But intelligence takes many forms. And Mr Trump’s number-rich analysis of defence spending reflects a businessman’s ability to cut through jargon to get to the essentials of a case.
The same Trump who uses gladiatorial press conferences and CAPITALISED tweets to hurl huge crude blocks of rhetoric at opponents is also the master of the P&L accounts and the determined negotiator who sees government as a failing corporation ripe for re-engineering ...
Mr Trump’s conversation flows like a river in spate, overwhelming interruptions and objections, reflecting the force of nature that is the man. But it would be a mistake to think that he is all instinct and impulse. He wants to bring to governing the same calculating business style that he has brought to communicating. While he has been criticised for tweeting attacks on everyone from Meryl Streep to the civil rights hero John Lewis, he has no intention of abandoning Twitter because he believes it gives him a direct connection to the American people.
More from my colleague Damien Gayle on why people are protesting against Trump.
"Today I am a [chlorinated] chicken."@GlobalJusticeUK activist Jelly Cleaver, from Brixton, on why protesters against the #TrumpUKVisit don't want US trade deals after #Brexit pic.twitter.com/rAmx3lhRZr
"Trump is a beacon for neoliberalism and racist policies. He's not standing up for the interests of working people."@RMTunion activist John Reid, 65, right, on why he's protesting the #TrumpUKVisit #TrumpProtest #Trump pic.twitter.com/FqjnmWkpvf
We have got more than an hour to wait until the Trump/May press conference starts, but (as is usual for these events) the journalists have been told to arrive extra early. They are in the Foreign Offie and, as ITV’s Robert Peston reports, at least they’re in a nice room.
As press holding pens go, I’ve been in shabbier pic.twitter.com/NaeJAOuKYn
From the BBC’s Jon SopelFrom the BBC’s Jon Sopel
BREAKING: anti-Trump demonstrators fail to stop ⁦@realDonaldTrump⁩ motorcade, but ⁦@Number10cat⁩ does. Lodges himself under wheel of #TheBeast #StateVisit pic.twitter.com/PAb8pWxItSBREAKING: anti-Trump demonstrators fail to stop ⁦@realDonaldTrump⁩ motorcade, but ⁦@Number10cat⁩ does. Lodges himself under wheel of #TheBeast #StateVisit pic.twitter.com/PAb8pWxItS
At least half of Change UK’s 11 MPs are poised to leave the fledgling political party, after its dismal performance at the European elections, my colleagues Heather Stewart and Jessica Elgot report.At least half of Change UK’s 11 MPs are poised to leave the fledgling political party, after its dismal performance at the European elections, my colleagues Heather Stewart and Jessica Elgot report.
Change UK poised to lose at least half its MPsChange UK poised to lose at least half its MPs
Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, has described President Trump as a poster boy for the far-right. Expanding on comments he made yesterday, Khan said:Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, has described President Trump as a poster boy for the far-right. Expanding on comments he made yesterday, Khan said:
The reality is, when you look around the world there are many leaders whose views I find abhorrent - in Hungary, in Italy, in France, here in the UK, and the poster boy they look up to is Donald Trump. The reality is, when you look around the world there are many leaders whose views I find abhorrent – in Hungary, in Italy, in France, here in the UK, and the poster boy they look up to is Donald Trump.
And it should be a source of concern to us that Donald Trump is the poster boy for the far-right movement around the world and actually some of the things that he has done as president are deeply objectionable, far more objectionable than silly tweets he might send.And it should be a source of concern to us that Donald Trump is the poster boy for the far-right movement around the world and actually some of the things that he has done as president are deeply objectionable, far more objectionable than silly tweets he might send.
During the visit to Downing Street, the PM and president, along with their spouses, viewed the Sussex Declaration - a rare copy of the American Declaration of Independence on sheepskin parchment dating back to the 1780s, the Press Association reports. During the visit to Downing Street, the PM and president, along with their spouses, viewed the Sussex Declaration – a rare copy of the American Declaration of Independence on sheepskin parchment dating back to the 1780s, the Press Association reports.
As anti-Trump protesters began their slow march down Whitehall hundreds of placards remained on the ground around Trafalgar Square, suggesting that organisers had not achieved the numbers expected, or indeed matched those of the last Trump demo.As anti-Trump protesters began their slow march down Whitehall hundreds of placards remained on the ground around Trafalgar Square, suggesting that organisers had not achieved the numbers expected, or indeed matched those of the last Trump demo.
The square had not quite been filled. Nevertheless, and as promised by organisers, and despite persistent drizzle, there was indeed a carnival atmosphere on the demonstration, with samba bands and whistles accompanying the thousands slowly streaming towards parliament.The square had not quite been filled. Nevertheless, and as promised by organisers, and despite persistent drizzle, there was indeed a carnival atmosphere on the demonstration, with samba bands and whistles accompanying the thousands slowly streaming towards parliament.
They will only make it halfway. Police have erected barricades along Whitehall to prevent protests outside Downing Street. Instead the demonstration will halt at the Women of World War Two memorial, where a stage will feature speakers, then take a circuitous route to Parliament Square for a mass rally.They will only make it halfway. Police have erected barricades along Whitehall to prevent protests outside Downing Street. Instead the demonstration will halt at the Women of World War Two memorial, where a stage will feature speakers, then take a circuitous route to Parliament Square for a mass rally.
Lots of placards left over in Trafalgar Square as the #TrumpUKVisit protest departs down Whitehall. Does this mean organisers have not achieved the numbers mobilised last year? pic.twitter.com/q3MjgsJbE0Lots of placards left over in Trafalgar Square as the #TrumpUKVisit protest departs down Whitehall. Does this mean organisers have not achieved the numbers mobilised last year? pic.twitter.com/q3MjgsJbE0
The anti-Trump protesters have been moving down Whitehall, Sky News reports.The anti-Trump protesters have been moving down Whitehall, Sky News reports.
At the Downing Street lobby briefing this morning a spokeswoman for the prime minister said the UK decision about whether or not to allow Huawei to play a role in constructing the UK’s 5G infrastructure (see 10.41am) would be based on a “hard-headed technically-informed assessment of the risk”. Talking about Theresa May’s meeting with President Trump, the spokeswoman said:
The PM will be setting out the UK position, we’re obviously reviewing the right policy approach at the moment.
The PM and others have been clear that any decision we take there will be supported by hard-headed technically-informed assessment of the risk.
We’re reviewing the right policy approach and when an announcement is ready we will update parliament.
A source close to Michael Gove has confirmed that the environment secretary has been asked to meet Donald Trump, as Sky was reporting earlier. (See 10.55am.) The source said:
Mr Gove was asked last night by Mr Trump’s team if he would be able to meet the president today. He said yes. Nothing has been fixed yet.
As the Press Association reports, the source indicated the meeting was likely to be on a one-to-one basis, which could prove embarrassing to Theresa May as her talks with the president are likely to involve senior ministers and officials rather than just the two leaders.
My colleague Dan Sabbagh has a list of some of the people lined up to speak at the anti-Trump demonstration.
Afternoon Trump protest line up. Brian Eno, Mark Rylance in the line up, closing speaker David Lammy. pic.twitter.com/vmT4Bhv8FB
Activists promised to meet Donald Trump with a “carnival of resistance” in London on Tuesday as they began gathering in protest again his state visit.
Together Against Trump, an umbrella organisation formed of dozens of civil society groups, is hoping to bring hundreds of thousands of people on to the streets around Westminster.
On Tuesday morning, before the 11am gathering time, there were already hundreds in Trafalgar Square, where bundles of placards were leant against street furniture and journalists made pieces to camera.
At 11.30am protesters are due to march down Whitehall to the Women At War memorial - as far as they can make it since police have blocked the area outside Downing Street, apparently for security reasons - where a stage is erected for speakers including Diane Abbott, the shadow home secretary, Frances O’Grady, general secretary of the TUC, and Caroline Lucas of the Green party, among others.
They will then march around the Embankment, past New Scotland Yard into Parliament Square, where a second stage will feature music artists and more speakers including, it is expected, Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader.
Micheal Hewitt, a retired clergyman from Bromley, was wandering past the fountains holding a piece of white A4 paper with the message, “Toxic Trump out”.
“I think his views are toxic, just toxic - how do you sum him up?” Hewitt said. Asked what his message to Trump would be, he said: “Get real, face reality of climate change and the interdependence of nations and stop being nationalistic. Patriotism is different from nationalism.”
"Dump Trump's trade deal"@GlobalJusticeUK activists dressed as chlorinated chickens drop a banner from the North end of Trafalgar Square #TrumpUKVisit #TrumpProtest pic.twitter.com/hodpp4JxIe
Turning back to the Tory leadership contest for a moment, James Cleverly, the Brexit minister who was one of several unexpected contenders in the Conservative leadership contests (or no-hopers, if you want to be more cynical), has announced that he is withdrawing from the contest. As of this morning, he had just four MPs supporting him.
Explaining his decision in a statement on his website, he said:
Last week I announced that I intended to run for the leadership of the Conservative party and as prime minister.
I felt that we needed to deliver Brexit and then quickly move the conversation on to other important issues that face the country. I had hoped that the Conservative parliamentary party would support me to be the face and voice of that conversation.
To do this I asked them to make a leap of faith, skip a generation and vote for a relatively new MP. It is clear that despite much support, particularly from our party’s grassroots, MPs weren’t comfortable with such a move and it has become clear that it is highly unlikely that I would progress to be one of the final two candidates.
For this reason I have withdrawn from the process of selecting a new leader and will not be submitting nomination papers.
Interviewed on BBC News a moment ago, Cleverly refused to say who he would now be backing for leader.
And here is the scene in Trafalgar Square, where the anti-Trump protest is getting underway.
President Trump has arrived now at Downing Street.
President Trump and Theresa May have been holding round table talks with business leaders at St James’s Palace.
According to the Press Association, Trump said the the US was already the UK’s largest trading partner and that he believed there was scope for further expansion. He said:
I think we will have a very, very substantial trade deal. This is something you want to do and my folks want to do.
He even suggested that May should rethink her decision to resign. He told her:
Stick around. Let’s do this deal.
(Presumably that was intended as more of a joke than as a constructive suggestion.)
May said that there were “huge opportunities” for Britain and the US to work together in the future. She said:
It is a great partnership but I think a partnership we can take even further. Of course that is with a good bilateral trade deal.
I think there are huge opportunities for us to do more together in the future and challenges to work on as well.
A Chinese-made talking robot of Donald Trump sitting on a gold toilet has become the focal point of anti Trump protests in Trafalgar Square.
As the Guardian revealed last month, the 4.9-metre (16ft) object depicts Trump with his trousers down, tweeting on the toilet, while his long red tie dangles into the bowl. It emits recordings of some of Trump’s provocative sound bites including: “no collusion”, “a witch-hunt”, “you are fake news” and “I’m a very stable genius.”
Its creator, Don Lessem, a dinosaur expert from Philadelphia, travelled to London to mark the robot’s debut at the protests.
Standing beside his creation he claimed comedy was the best way to defeating Trump. “Humour is my weapon,” he said.
The robot also makes a farting sound. Lessem said: “The fart we couldn’t get from him so we had to use a generic fart.”
Lessem told the Guardian that he had no problem getting the robot built in Sichuan and then shipped from China to the UK. He said:
The factory manager was shocked that we could make fun of our president without repercussions but had no fear of consequences for them in doing so. Trump is not on the Chinese government’s list of favourites, and one of the first papers to pick up the Guardian’s story was the South China News. Since the government keeps particularly close tabs on publications, it’s a tacit indication that the robot is actually appreciated by Chinese authorities.
It was a debate as to how to categorise the robot for shipping purposes. I chose ‘toy’ over ‘art’.
A message to Trump from a protester.