Trade and tea with queen for Trump in a Britain in 'turmoil'

[webfact]

Trade and tea with queen for Trump in a Britain in 'turmoil'

By Michael Holden

 

U.S. President Donald Trump checks time prior to a dinner at the Art and History Museum at the Parc du Cinquantenaire during the NATO Summit in Brussels, Belgium July 11, 2018. Geert Vanden Wijngaert/Pool via REUTERS

 

LONDON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump flies into Britain on Thursday for talks with the leader of the United States' closest ally in Europe, and tea with Queen Elizabeth, set against a backdrop of protests and what he described as the country's turmoil over Brexit.

 

Fresh from a NATO summit where Trump chided Germany and other European nations for failing to contribute enough to defence spending, British Prime Minister Theresa May is hoping his trip will boost the close ties between their two nations and help forge a future free trade deal.

 

"There is no stronger alliance than that of our special relationship with the U.S. and there will be no alliance more important in the years ahead," May said in a statement.

 

Trump's trip coincides with a tumultuous week for May after two senior ministers resigned in protest at her plans for trade with the European Union after Britain leaves next March.

 

The president has already waded into the debate, saying Britain was "in somewhat turmoil" and that it was up to the people if she stayed in power.

 

He also said he might speak to Boris Johnson, who quit as foreign secretary over May's plans for a business-friendly Brexit which was only agreed by her cabinet last Friday after two years of wrangling.

 

Trump has long been a supporter of Brexit and has expressed enthusiasm for a wide-ranging trade deal with Britain after it leaves the EU, something heralded by Brexit supporters as being one of the great benefits of exiting the bloc.

 

"Our trade and investment relationship is unrivalled – we are the largest investors in each other's economies and every day a million British people go to work for U.S. companies in the UK and a million Americans go to work for UK companies in the U.S.," May said.

 

"This week we have an opportunity to deepen this unique trading relationship and begin discussions about how we will forge a strengthened, ambitious and future-proof trade partnership."

 

TRUMP BALLOON

However, despite the welcome from May, many Britons remain deeply opposed to Trump's visit. A YouGov poll on Wednesday showed 77 percent of Britons had an unfavourable opinion of the president and just 50 percent thought his visit should go ahead.

 

"The president of the United States of America will regretfully have the red carpet rolled out for him by this Conservative government," Ian Blackford, the Scottish National Party's leader in the Westminster parliament, told lawmakers on Wednesday.

 

"But from the public, the welcome will be far from warm," he added saying there would be protests across the country against Trump's "abysmal record on human rights, his repugnant attitude towards women and his disgusting treatment of minorities".

 

A high metal fence has been erected around the U.S. ambassador's central London residence where Trump will spend Thursday night and the embassy has sent out an alert warning Americans in London to keep a low profile in case protests turn violent.

 

More than 50,000 people have signed up to demonstrate in London on Friday when protesters intend to fly a large balloon over parliament portraying Trump as an orange, snarling baby.

 

On Thursday, Trump will travel to Blenheim Palace, the 18th-century mansion where Britain's World War Two leader Winston Churchill was born and spent most of his childhood.

 

May will host a black-tie dinner for Trump at the stately home that will be attended by senior ministers and about 100 business leaders, including the likes of Blackstone group, Blackrock, Diageo, McLaren and Arup.

 

The two leaders will hold talks the following day at Chequers, the 16th-century manor house which is the prime minister's official country residence which will focus on Russia, trade, Brexit and Middle East.

 

Later, Trump will go to Windsor Castle for tea with the 92-year-old queen. When he leaves Britain on Sunday, after a trip to Scotland where he owns two golf courses, he heads to Helsinki for a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

 

"I have NATO, I have the UK, which is in somewhat turmoil, and I have Putin," Trump said when he departed on Tuesday. "Frankly, Putin may be the easiest of them all. Who would think?"

 

(Reporting by Michael Holden; Additional reporting by Elizabeth Piper)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-07-12

[Get Real]

See, the picture in this news article says it all. Mr. Trump looked at the time and said "Damn, still 2 minute more before I can say something stupid again".
A little bit like a character that would have been fitting good in the movie "Blues Brothers".

[Tug]

My abject apology to the queen and her subjects he is truly an embarrassment 

[Rigby40]

I don't know why Trump even wasted his time in that blank hole country

Edited July 12, 2018 by Rigby40

[sammieuk1]

He might get away with it if he doesn't mention any amazingly good deals in the Caymans or Brighthouse and the Greek bailout. 

[evadgib]

32 minutes ago, Rigby40 said:

I don't know why Trump even wasted his time in that blank hole country

Is this the return of the "Ashamed to be British" brigade??

Edited July 12, 2018 by evadgib

[farcanell]

45 minutes ago, Rigby40 said:

I don't know why Trump even wasted his time in that blank hole country

Perhaps you have reading and comprehension issues going on there, much like the dumpster seems to have

 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

....tea with queen for Trump....

There ya go..... although the question might have been better put in wondering why the queen would want trump with tea. Ho hum.... That said..... Undoubtedly both will be doing more of this.... (Although I’m sure the queen will be too polite to be seen doing it, unlike this twit)

 

Edited July 12, 2018 by farcanell

[Rigby40]

3 minutes ago, farcanell said:

Perhaps you have reading and comprehension issues going on there, much like the dumpster seems to have

 

There ya go..... although the question might have been better put in wondering why the queen would want trump for tea. Ho hum.... That said..... Undoubtedly both will be doing more of this.... (Although I’m sure the queen will be too polite to be seen doing it, unlike this twit)

 

Oops you're right I'm a day early.

I should have wrote "I don't know why Trump would even waste his time in that blank hole country"

Thanks for that mate.

Edited July 12, 2018 by Rigby40

[helpisgood]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

"I have NATO, I have the UK, which is in somewhat turmoil, and I have Putin," Trump said when he departed on Tuesday. "Frankly, Putin may be the easiest of them all. Who would think?" 

Like maybe everyone, Donny, especially some bankers and some Moscow girls. 

[lionsincity]

[zydeco]

4 hours ago, Rigby40 said:

I don't know why Trump even wasted his time in that blank hole country

Not sure it's a "blank hole country," but London certainly is a blank hole city.

[dunroaming]

I am only going to the main march on Friday.  The one at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire (where Trump is being given dinner by May), the one in Regents Park (where the US Ambassadors Residence is) and the ones in Scotland (when he visits his golf course will be attended mainly by locals I believe.  Don't expect much in Windsor but who knows?

 

 

[Scott]

Off-topic posts reported and removed.

 

[Stargeezr]

Trump will be okay, as he don't own any golf courses there. Right?

[simple1]

43 minutes ago, Stargrazer9889 said:

Trump will be okay, as he don't own any golf courses there. Right?

Trump owns two golf courses in the UK

[bristolboy]

28 minutes ago, simple1 said:

Trump owns two golf courses in the UK

Both of them are losing money.