As Trump’s state visit is announced, David Lammy nails why he’s not welcome

Donald Trump, Theresa May and David Lammy


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An announcement on 23 April confirmed that Donald Trump will make a three-day state visit to the UK on 3 June. According to the BBC, the White House said this visit reaffirms the “steadfast and special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom”. But many people are unhappy, to say the least. And Labour’s David Lammy nailed exactly why.

“Deluded, dishonest…”

Ahead of the formal announcement, Lammy described Trump as “deluded, dishonest, xenophobic, narcissistic”. And he also explained why he’s not welcome:

 

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Labour’s Emily Thornberry also pointed out the atrocious timing of this announcement. “It beggars belief”, she said, that it coincided with news that Trump has threatened “to veto a UN resolution against the use of rape as a weapon of war”. She continued:

This is a President who has systematically assaulted all the shared values that unite our two countries, and unless Theresa May is finally going to stand up to him and object to that behaviour, she has no business wasting taxpayers’ money on all the pomp, ceremony and policing costs that will come with this visit

Yet top Conservatives gave a very different response. According to the BBC, Theresa May said this state visit is an:

opportunity to strengthen our already close relationship in areas such as trade, investment, security and defence, and to discuss how we can build on these ties in the years ahead.

Meanwhile, foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt’s response showed a not-so-subtle Trump style influence:

“Peace and human rights”

Lammy and Thornberry weren’t alone in their criticism. For a start, many people are also angry about the inevitable costs of the visit:

Others, meanwhile, pointed out some home truths:

However, as the Peace Pledge Union pointed out, Trump’s visit does create opportunities to stand up for “peace and human rights”:

Meanwhile, just a few hours after Trump’s visit was announced, protest plans grew:

Lammy is spot on. And it says everything about May and this Conservative government that they’re willing to welcome Trump. But no matter what Tory MPs say, Trump and his vile views should expect full-scale resistance from many people in the UK.

Featured images via Wikimedia – The White House / Wikimedia – Policy Exchange

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