Cold reception, harsh criticism, and sarcasm from the British press in response to Trump’s visit.
The Guardian newspaper, with the headline “Trump fanning the flames of division”, echoed the words of London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who accused Trump of having fueled the divisive politics of the far right more than anyone else in recent years. The Daily Mirror also reacted to Trump’s arrival with the ironic headline “Self-centered has landed” and published images of protests and activists who had thrown pictures of Trump and Jeffrey Epstein on the wall of Windsor Castle; an action that was accompanied by the arrest of four people.
In contrast, the Times newspaper, a media outlet close to the British Foreign Office, focused on the signing of a multi-billion pound technology agreement between the two countries, and headlined from an economic perspective: “Billion-dollar tech deal benefits Britain”. The newspaper “I” addressed the Gaza crisis with the headline “Starmer presses Trump on Israel” and wrote that the British Prime Minister must convince Trump to push for an end to the war; An issue that the White House has not prioritized, according to the Guardian.
Some conservative newspapers also chose to devote their main headlines to the domestic migration crisis. The Daily Telegraph, with the headline “Migrants’ flight grounded by court” and the Daily Mail, with the headline “Human rights-obsessed PM drowned by human rights”, highlighted the High Court’s ruling halting the first flight of the Starmer government’s plan to deport illegal immigrants.
Meanwhile, the Financial Times and the Daily Express preferred to focus their attention on domestic economic problems. The Financial Times warned of government deficits and tax increases, and the Daily Express reported that four million pensioners will have to pay pension tax for the first time in two years.
This press coverage shows that Trump’s visit to the UK took place in a critical, cold atmosphere, accompanied by street protests. On the one hand, the Starmer government is trying to turn it into an opportunity for economic and technology deals, and on the other hand, the media and public opinion have focused on the negative aspects of the US president’s personality and policies; as the country’s large-circulation newspapers either used humorous and ironic headlines or gave priority to domestic issues and marginalized Trump’s presence.
Donald Trump arrived in London last night (Tuesday) for his second state visit. He met with King Charles III of England today and is scheduled to meet with the country’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday. Trump’s first state visit in 2019 was also accompanied by widespread protests in London and other cities.