It’s Obama’s fault, says Trump, after scrapping UK trip to open new embassy
Trump says he won’t open new embassy in London because it is in an ‘off location’, and Obama sold previous site for ‘peanuts’
US President Donald Trump announced Friday he will no longer attend the opening of the new US embassy in London, a move welcomed by critics in Britain who had planned mass protests.
He wrote on Twitter that he was abandoning the trip – initially expected next month – because he did not like the location or price tag.
“Reason I canceled my trip to London is that I am not a big fan of the Obama Administration having sold perhaps the best located and finest embassy in London for “peanuts,” only to build a new one in an off location for 1.2 billion dollars,” Trump wrote. “Bad deal. Wanted me to cut ribbon – NO!”
There had been speculation that the trip would be merged with a planned state visit to Britain offered to Trump by Prime Minister Theresa May, which has met strong public and political opposition.
A spokesman for her Downing Street office said on Friday said that the state visit plans have not changed, although no date has yet been set.
Some oppose Trump’s visit because of his travel ban on people from Muslim-majority countries.
“Many Londoners have made it clear that Donald Trump is not welcome here while he is pursuing such a divisive agenda. It seems he’s finally got that message,” tweeted Mayor of London Sadiq Khan.
