LONDON, Sept 17: President Donald Trump has arrived in the UK for his second state visit, combining royal ceremony, trade talks, and diplomacy, the BBC reported.
Trump called the trip an honor before leaving the US and said his relationship with the UK was strong. The BBC quoted him saying he was open to refining a trade deal, with a £31bn technology investment announced as the visit began, including £22bn from Microsoft for AI, quantum computing, and nuclear power. Alphabet also pledged £5bn for UK AI research, and a separate nuclear power cooperation agreement will be signed.
Chinese FM Wang arrives on three-day visit
The BBC stated that Trump said the main purpose of his visit was to meet King Charles, calling him a friend and “an elegant gentleman.” He landed at Stansted Airport and was greeted by Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper before staying at Winfield House, the US ambassador’s residence.
The BBC noted that Wednesday’s program at Windsor Castle will feature the largest-ever guard of honor for a state visit, with 1,300 personnel from the Army, Royal Navy, and RAF. There will be a gun salute, a military inspection, and a carriage procession within the castle grounds. Prince William and Catherine will take part in the welcome. Trump described Windsor as “the ultimate” setting and said he had a deep personal connection to the UK.
According to the BBC, the UK government hopes to use the visit to reinforce US commitment to NATO and continued support for Ukraine. A joint flypast of F-35 jets and the Red Arrows will demonstrate military ties, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer watching alongside Trump. The centerpiece of the trip will be a banquet in St. George’s Hall, where both King Charles and Trump will speak, with the menu reflecting the US-UK relationship.
The BBC reported that attempts to remove the 25% tariff on UK steel exports to the US remain unresolved. Meanwhile, anti-Trump protests have begun in Windsor, including an unauthorized projection of Trump and Jeffrey Epstein’s images onto Windsor Castle. Police arrested four people, saying they treat such incidents seriously.
According to the BBC, the state visit will remain largely behind closed doors, with events taking place at Windsor and Chequers. While Windsor’s streets are lined with US flags, Trump will not see them. The visit ends on Thursday afternoon under tight security.
