Washington, DC [US], July 14 (ANI): U.S. President Donald Trump is set to make a historic second state visit to the United Kingdom in September, following a formal invitation from King Charles III, according to The New York Times, citing a statement from Buckingham Palace.
The King extended the invitation via a letter delivered by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer during his February visit to the Oval Office.
Trump reportedly enjoyed his previous state visit to Britain in 2019, when Queen Elizabeth II hosted him with full honors, including a lavish banquet at Buckingham Palace and a royal artillery salute. In his documentary The Art of the Surge, which chronicled his political comeback, Trump showcased a book of photographs featuring himself and the late Queen, whom he described as “fantastic.”
However, the 2019 visit was also marked by controversy. Just prior to his arrival, Trump attacked London Mayor Sadiq Khan—who is Muslim—on social media, calling him a “stone-cold loser” and criticizing his leadership of the capital.
Khan, in turn, labeled Trump as “just one of the most egregious examples of a growing global threat,” and compared his rhetoric to that of “fascists of the 20th century.” The animosity between the two leaders appears to remain unchanged, as Khan continues to serve as mayor.
British media reports suggest that due to the timing of Trump’s visit, he is unlikely to address Parliament. Parliament is typically not in session in late September, when political parties host their annual policy conferences. This could create an awkward contrast with French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent state visit, during which he addressed Parliament.
Like Macron, Trump is expected to be hosted at Windsor Castle, as Buckingham Palace remains under major renovation.
Meanwhile, Trump intensified trade tensions over the weekend by announcing a 30 percent tariff on goods from Mexico and the European Union, effective August 1.
In separate letters posted on Truth Social, Trump informed Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen of the new tariffs, citing border security and trade imbalances as the primary drivers.
In his letter to Sheinbaum Pardo, Trump linked the decision to the ongoing fentanyl crisis: “Mexico has been helping me secure the border, BUT, what Mexico has done is not enough,” he wrote.
According to The Hill, the U.S. previously imposed a 25 percent tariff on Mexican goods, though Trump later exempted items covered under the 2020 U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. It remains unclear whether those exemptions will still apply after the new tariffs are implemented. (ANI)
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