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Donald Trump 'fine' with protests as he begins UK visit

Updated 21:15 Donald Trump has arrived in Britain for a four-day visit, with the US President ins...
Newstalk
Newstalk

15.05 12 Jul 2018


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Donald Trump 'fine&...

Donald Trump 'fine' with protests as he begins UK visit

Newstalk
Newstalk

15.05 12 Jul 2018


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Updated 21:15

Donald Trump has arrived in Britain for a four-day visit, with the US President insisting he is 'fine' with protests expected to coincide with the visit.

President Trump and his wife Melania arrived at Stansted Airport this afternoon.

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They were greeted by US Ambassador to the UK Woody Johnson and the British government's International Trade Secretary Liam Fox.

The couple met US Embassy staff in London, before travelling to Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire for a black-tie dinner.

Local police reported protests at the palace as guests gathered for the event.

US President Donald Trump and US First Lady Melania Trump stand with Prime Minister Theresa May and her husband Philip May at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire. Picture by: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire/PA Images

Tomorrow, the US President will hold talks with Theresa May and meet with Queen Elizabeth, before travelling to Scotland for the weekend.

President Trump is expected to be met with significant protests over the course of the visit, with activists hoping tens of thousands will gather in London tomorrow to demonstrate against the Trump administration's policies.

Protests on Friday will include a 'giant baby' Trump balloon which is set to be flown near the Houses of Parliament.

'Trump baby' balloon. Image: Crowdfunder.co.uk

Met Police in London said they have spoken to organisers of two of the planned protests: 'The Women's March on London - Bring the Noise' and 'Together against Trump'.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Lucy D'Orsi said: "We are obliged to balance the needs of protesters with issues of the safety, particularly in a crowded place, of those people attending the event and the wider community in London. 

"Central London will be very busy and congested tomorrow; based on figures the organisers have shared with us, there will be a lot of people coming to protest, which is their right and this principle remains at the heart of our policing operation."

'Hot spot'

While he has spent some time in London today and will stay there overnight, the US President's itinerary will see him largely avoid the capital - although Trump himself insisted he is 'fine' with any protests.

Speaking at the NATO summit in Brussels before departing for London, President Trump said: "I think they like me a lot in the UK - I think they agree with me on immigration."

He briefly touched on the political turmoil the British government is facing over Brexit, suggesting: "I'm going to a hot spot right now, with a lot of resignations".

Trump is due to meet with Vladimir Putin in Helsinki following his British visit, and today he repeated his suggestion that the meeting with the Russian leader could be the 'easiest' of his three European visits.


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