Trump UK visit: President has state banquet with Queen as Labour announces Corbyn will speak at protest
US leader an ‘egregious example of growing far-right threat’, says Sadiq Khan after Twitter spat
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Protesters have denounced Donald Trump as “frightening and dangerous” and claimed his state visit is “an invitation for his ideology to be imported” to the UK, during a dramatic first day of the US president's second state visit to the country.
During a state banquet at Buckingham Palace, Queen Elizabeth II greeted the president, and reminded those in attendance of the "close and longstanding friendship" between their two countries — and appeared to rebuke Mr Trump's so-called America-first ideology that has threatened once close alliances and shaken the international community.
"I am so glad that we have another opportunity to demonstrate the immense importance that both our countries attach to our relationship," the Queen said.
The itinerary for Mr Trump going forward includes meetings with business leaders, a tour of historic British buildings, and trips to Portsmouth and Normandy — with the latter coming on the 75th anniversary of D-Day.
The Queen, during her remarks, used that historic moment in the Second World War to reinforce the importance of the US-UK relationship.
"On that day — and on many occasions since — the armed forces of both our countries fought side-by-side to defend our cherished values of liberty and democracy," she said.
"As we face the new challenges of the 21st Century, the anniversary of D-Day reminds us of all that our counties have achieved together," she continued, addressing the kinds of international coooperation in the post war years that Mr Trump appears to have disregarded as president. "After the shared sacrifices of the Second World War, Britain and the United States worked with other allies to build an assembly of international institutions to ensure that the horrors of conflict would never be repeated."
But, nearby in London, protesters denounced the president who had lashed out at mayor Sadiq Khaan as his trip loomed.
“It’s one thing to tolerate it, it is something else to promote it,” 46-year-old Hada Moreno told The Independent outside Buckingham Palace of Mr Trump's ideological stance.
But the US president’s backers were also present, calling him “a hero”. One said: “After Brexit we will need him for trade as well as security.” It came after Mr Trump lashed out at London’s mayor on Twitter, branding him “terrible” and a “stone-cold loser”.
Mr Trump and his wife Melania dined with the Queen at Buckingham Palace. The pair were met by Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, and will also take a tour of Westminster Abbey. Observers were curious as to how the Prince of Wales, a keen environmentalist, would get along with the fossil fuel-loving president.
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Welcome to The Independent's live coverage of day one of Donald Trump's state visit to the UK.
Protesters have vowed to bring the centre of London "to a standstill" in opposition to Mr Trump's visit.
“By the time he leaves he will know – and the world will know – that people here reject him and his toxic politics,” said Denis Fernando of the Stand up to Trump campaign group.
Coaches have been hired to get people to the capital from York, Newcastle, Swansea and elsewhere on Tuesday, following smaller London and regional demonstrations today.
For more details on what the US president could be facing once he touches down, read our story here.
Mr Trump has again stirred speculation as to whether he will meet with Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage during his trip, in his typically non-committal style.
Speaking outside the White House he praised Mr Johnson, and said: "Well, I think I may meet with him. He's been a friend of mine. He's been very nice. I have a very good relationship with him."
He had previously said he believed the Tory leadership frontrunner would make an "excellent" prime minister, sparking condemnation from the British political establishment.
Of Mr Farage, he said: "I have a very good relationship with Nigel Farage, with many people over there and we'll see what happens. I may meet with him. They want to meet. We'll see what happens."
Donald Trump’s visit to the UK will be a test for Theresa May during her last days as prime minister – but it will also offer whoever steps into her shoes a view into how to deal with the US president, writes Chris Stevenson.
The London-Washington “special relationship” has certainly cooled with Trump in the White House, the major issue being that the president’s pushing of an “America First” agenda has pushed against the UK’s preference for international diplomacy and multilateral treaties.
The new direction in US policy has meant London has had to distance itself from Washington over the Paris climate accords and the nuclear deal with Iran, with Trump rejecting both.
Theresa May has said she hopes to build on the “strong and enduring ties” between the UK and US ahead of Donald Trump‘s much-anticipated state visit, writes Lizzy Buchan.
The prime minister issued a warm welcome to Mr Trump ahead of his three-day visit, which she said would “further strengthen” the special relationship between the two countries.
But the pomp and pageantry of the visit will mask deep tensions, after the president defied diplomatic convention to make a series of extraordinary interventions into British politics.
Mr Trump will arrive in the UK following a number of recent controversies. The Sun newspaper published an interview in which he called the Duchess of Sussex "nasty" – and, when the president denied doing so, published a recording that proved he had.
And domestically, he has come under fire for a White House request that a warship named for the late senator John McCain – following a re-dedication ceremony last year – be hidden from his sight during a visit to Japan.
The destroyer USS John S McCain was originally named after the Arizona senator's father and grandfather. He and Mr Trump had feuded very publicly before his death.
Mr Trump has reignited his long-running feud with Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London.
On Sunday, Mr Khan described the president as "just one of the most egregious examples of a growing global threat" and compared the language he has used to that of the "fascists of the 20th century".
Asked if he would be willing to meet Mr Khan, Mr Trump replied: "No, I don't think much of him. I think that he's a – he's the twin of [New York City mayor Bill] de Blasio, except shorter."
The helicopters due to ferry Mr Trump to Winfield House, the US ambassador's residence where he will be staying, have departed for Stansted, it seems.
Also before he left the US, Mr Trump talked up the prospect of a post-Brexit trade deal (also in his aforementioned, characteristic non-committal style).
He said: "(We're) going to the UK. I think it'll be very important. It certainly will be very interesting. There's a lot going on in the UK. And I'm sure it's going to work out very well for them.
"As you know, they want to do trade with the United States, and I think there's an opportunity for a very big trade deal at some point in the near future. And we'll see how that works out."
It followed an almighty row over comments by Woody Johnson, the US ambassador to the UK, in which he said access to the NHS would be "on the table" for American companies in any trade deal.
The "entire economy" would be included in transatlantic negotiations, he said.
Prince Harry will attend today's private lunch at Buckingham Palace. It is sure to be awkward, following the president's comments about his wife.
The duchess will be at home with their four-week-old son, Archie.
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