2 days ago
Donald Trump's historic second state visit to the UK is still on course for autumn, Starmer confirms
Donald Trump 's historic second state visit to the UK is on course for this autumn, Keir Starmer said yesterday.
The Prime Minister, who has forged an unlikely bond with the US President, said he was 'looking forward to welcoming him' to the UK later this year, adding: 'He will be coming.'
Sir Keir told Bloomberg News that the exact timing of the visit was a matter for Buckingham Palace.
The trip is thought to be the first time a US President has been granted the honour of a second state visit. Mr Trump's first trip was in 2019.
The Prime Minister extended the official invitation from the monarch to the president to come to the UK on his visit to the White House in February.
'He's a beautiful man, a wonderful man, and we appreciate it. I've known him, gotten to know him very well actually, first term and now second term,' Trump told reporters.
The King suggested he and Mr Trump could meet before that visit, either at Dumfries House or Balmoral, which are near the businessman's golf courses in Scotland, to discuss the plans for the much grander state visit.
Trump made several visits to Britain in his first term, when Elizabeth II was on the throne, including a state visit.
But this would be his first since Charles became King.
Precedent for second-term US presidents who have already made a state visit is usually tea or lunch with the monarch at Windsor Castle, as was the case for George W Bush and Barack Obama.
But Mr Trump – the first ever convicted felon to become US president – has received an invitation to make a second state visit.
The US president has strong links to Scotland. His mother was born on the Isle of Lewis and he owns a golf resort at Turnberry in Ayrshire.
During his first spell in the White House, Mr Trump visited both Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace to meet Queen Elizabeth II.
