Trump may make second state visit to Britain - The Telegraph

According to sources cited by the Telegraph, the British Prime Minister’s residence at Downing Street and the Foreign Office, with support from Buckingham Palace, are preparing an invitation for newly elected US President Donald Trump to visit London following his return to the White House.

Trump has often spoken fondly of his state visit in June 2019, when he was accompanied by Melania Trump, his wife, and his adult children during his first term as president.

The Telegraph suggests that a second state visit by Trump is unlikely to occur before 2026, due to the king’s scheduling commitments. Next year, King Charles III is expected to visit Italy and the Vatican, as well as undertake a second international trip yet to be announced. State visits are also being planned for 2025.

A source at the royal residence told The Telegraph that there is no formal precedent preventing a second state visit for an elected politician, and the palace has a positive impression of Trump’s first visit. The source emphasized that such invitations are issued on the advice of the Foreign Office.

Since 1954, official records of the British royal family show that no elected leader has ever had two state visits to the UK. Only two monarchs have been granted this honor during that period.

One was Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, who visited the UK on state visits in 1974 and 2000. The other was King Olav V of Norway, who made state visits in 1963 and again in 1988.

A government source noted that the unusual circumstances of the gap between Donald Trump’s first and second presidential terms have allowed him to remain a prominent political figure longer than many other elected leaders.

“The fact there has been a change of both sovereign and government in that break [from power] means a second state visit is entirely appropriate.,” the source said.

The Telegraph noted that not all meetings between a foreign leader and the British monarch are classified as state visits. This is a special honor that involves more formalities and requires months of planning.

Communication problems

The Telegraph reminded that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces the challenge of establishing constructive relations with Donald Trump, who supported Brexit, and former Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Most of Sir Keir’s cabinet ministers, including Foreign Secretary David Lammy, have previously voiced strong criticism and personal insults towards Trump, complicating these efforts. In September, the Prime Minister and Lammy met Trump for a private dinner, and Downing Street presented this conversation as evidence of improving relations.

Foreign Ministry officials hope to partly replicate this approach by arranging a meeting between the Prime Minister and Trump as soon as possible after his return to the White House on January 20, 2025.

An offer for a second state visit may be extended, although one source suggested that detailed discussions about when and where to make this proposal are still to come.

British officials involved in diplomacy were pleased with how well the recent meeting between Prince William and Donald Trump went during the opening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

Some in the Foreign Office view the Prince as a secret weapon who will help improve relations between the UK under Starmer's leadership and the US under Trump in the coming years.

Later, Trump described his 30-minute conversation with Prince William in France as really great and joked that the future king was a very handsome man.

Commentators often attribute Trump’s admiration for the royal family to his Scottish mother, who also held the monarchy close to her heart.

Serious challenges

However, the Telegraph suggests that a second state visit will present both political challenges and potential benefits for Sir Keir. Polls continue to show that much of the British public is not particularly favorable towards Trump.

During Trump's state visit to London in 2019, there was no parade along The Mall, reportedly due to concerns that it could be disrupted by protesters and disappoint him.

No announcements about a second state visit will be made until an official invitation is extended to Trump, which is unlikely to happen until he returns to the White House.

Trump has long expressed his admiration for the royal family, increasing the likelihood that they will be used to strengthen ties between the two governments.

Morgan McSweeney, the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff, held secret talks with Trump's team earlier this month, attempting to win over the newly elected president.

The Telegraph notes that Sir Keir has long prioritized building relations with Trump and was one of the few foreign leaders who called him after the July assassination attempt.

In September, Sir Keir dined with Trump, then still the Republican Party candidate, during his visit to New York for the United Nations General Assembly.

The Prime Minister also appointed Lord Mandelson, a former Blair-era minister, as his new ambassador to the US to strengthen ties with the White House. This was a deliberate political appointment, as Downing Street saw Lord Mandelson as someone with the experience necessary to earn Trump’s respect.

Trump's relations with Britain and Europe

At the beginning of November, immediately after being elected president, Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer discussed cooperation between the two countries and the situation in the Middle East.

According to media reports, Donald Trump stated that European countries should increase military assistance to Ukraine.

For more insights on who in Europe can be considered Trump’s allies and who are his true adversaries, read our analytical article.