Trump UK visit: President branded ‘frightening and dangerous’ as thousands prepare to protest

Hundreds of thousands could turn out for mass rally against US leader’s ‘disgraceful’ London visit

Protesters described Donald Trump as “frightening and dangerous” as they gathered in London to mark the arrival of the US president for his state visit, ahead of a planned rally on Tuesday when thousands are expected to take part.

Demonstrators opposed to Mr Trump’s visit said his invitation to the UK was “disgraceful” and warned attempts to secure a post-Brexit trade deal with him would backfire.

Others waited outside Buckingham Palace armed with pro-Trump placards, American flags and “Make America Great Again” caps.

However, the mood on Monday as the president and his entourage landed on the lawn of Buckingham Palace was mainly one of bemusement, with both camps vastly outnumbered by tourists, many of whom did not know the president was in town.

Pierre Michaud, who was visiting from Montreal, Canada, complained the president’s arrival had caused a large part of central London to be closed.

“The state visit has just got in the way,” he said after being turned away from Westminster Abbey because of the president’s imminent arrival there. “Trump’s visit should have been much more low key.”

Another tourist said she had been “totally oblivious” to his visit and hoped to avoid the disruption it had brought.

But those who were there in support or opposition to the president were keen to have their voices heard.

Two members of the crowd briefly clashed over Mr Trump’s record in office after a woman wearing one of the president’s signature red caps began shouting accusations of bias and “fake news” towards the media tents.

A huge police and security operation has been put in place for Tuesday’s rally, which organisers called “the big one” with potentially hundreds of thousands of people taking part.

Jeremy Corbyn will address crowds and a 16ft talking robot of Mr Trump sitting on a gold toilet is expected to make an appearance.

Supporters of Human Rights charity Amnesty will also unfurl five giant banners from Vauxhall Bridge, facing the US embassy, saying “Resist sexism”, “Resist racism”, “Resist hate”, “Resist cruelty” and “Resist Trump”.

Londoner Kerry, 59, who did not want to give her surname, said Mr Trump was frightening and dangerous.

From her spot on Constitution Hill overlooking Buckingham Palace, she told The Independent: “We can’t just sit by and ignore him. Inviting Trump makes the UK seem like we are endorsing him and his policies.”

Hada Moreno, a 46-year-old student from Oxford, agreed. “If you don’t say what is wrong, nothing is going to change,” she said. “We need to speak up against evil. It isn’t just Trump, but his ideology that we need to oppose.

Protest outside Buckingham Palace, London, during the first day of a state visit to the UK by US president Donald Trump. (PA/David Mirzoeff)

“This state visit is an invitation for his ideology to be imported to the UK.”

Waiting on Parliament Square was Dolores Crittendon, 62, from Chichester. She had brought with her a balloon depicting Mr Trump as a nappy-wearing baby – a smaller version of the blimp which will be flown during Tuesday’s march from Trafalgar Square to Parliament.

“I never had any interest in politics until Trump was elected, and then we had a feeling something bad was going to happen,” she said.

“Inviting him to London is disgraceful. He won’t give us a trade deal, and if he does it will be a bad one.”

Standing nearby was Irene Cradick, from Dorset, who, armed with a placard describing the US president as a liar, said his visit was wholly inappropriate.

“I don’t think it’s fair that the royal family should have to bend over backwards for him,” she said.

“Plus, he treats his own family as though they were the royal family of America.”

Jerry and Lisa Foster, from Florida, took an entirely different view of their president.

“We happened to be here on holiday but wanted to come down and show our support for Trump,” Mr Foster said.

“We love him. The best president since Reagan. He’s his own person, he’s not being bought by anybody. He does it because he loves America. He says what other people think. It should be like that here: England first.”

Joseph Afrane, a 55-year-old royal fan from Battersea, said inviting Mr Trump was crucial because after Brexit the UK would rely on America for trade and security.

“I respect him as an elected president and leader of the free world. The UK is going to benefit from this visit,” he insisted.

Russell, 48, from Shropshire, described Mr Trump as a hero and said those who had called for him to be banned from the UK were “fascists”.

“Don’t forget, not everyone in the UK is against him. We need a Trump-like figure in Downing Street,” he said.