Donald Trump’s UK visit: ‘special relationship’ tested as US president puts trade, security and China’s Huawei on the table
- Trump brings Brexit advice, teases ‘very big trade deal’, on state visit to troubled UK
- US president will warn Britain against dealing with China’s Huawei
US President Donald Trump arrived in Britain on Monday on a state visit laden with diplomatic peril, having already humiliated outgoing Prime Minister Theresa May over Brexit and challenging her to be tougher in dealing with China’s Huawei.
He was greeted by the queen at Buckingham Palace on the first day of his state visit after he and his wife Melania arrived by helicopter, landing in the monarch’s back garden.
Royal gun salutes were fired from nearby Green Park and from the Tower of London as part of the pageantry.
On Tuesday, thousands of demonstrators are expected to protest in London over a visit packed with pomp and controversy that has seen numerous calls for its cancellation.
And true to form, the proudly unpredictable US president ripped up the diplomatic rule book before he even touched down by saying former foreign minister Boris Johnson would make an “excellent” choice to succeed May, who is set to formally resign on Friday.
Then on landing, he sent out a tweet calling London Mayor Sadiq Khan a “stone cold loser” for criticising his red carpet treatment.