LONDON (AP) - U.S. President Donald Trump was granted a royal welcome during his second state visit at Windsor Castle on Wednesday. However, outside the castle, the atmosphere was marred by demonstrations from thousands of protesters who opposed his presence.
Several thousand individuals marched through central London in protest of Trump's visit, which included a lavish banquet in his honor arranged by King Charles III and a scheduled meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The protesters were organized by the Stop Trump U.K. coalition, carrying banners with slogans such as “No to the racism, no to Trump.”
The protest replicated imagery from Trump’s first visit in June 2019, with some attendees bringing small versions of the infamous Trump baby blimp, an orange caricature of the president depicted in a diaper. Additional signs read “No to Trump, no to fascism” and “Dump Trump.” The protest intensified as members of the crowd booed a counter-protester holding a sign that proclaimed “We Love Trump.”
London's police force had prepared extensively for the demonstrations, deploying 1,600 officers anticipating participation from around 50 different activist groups, including climate advocates, anti-racism campaigners, and pro-Palestinian forces. Despite the presence of thousands at the protest, the number of participants was significantly lower compared to the turnout during Trump's previous visit.
Unlike prior state visits that were centralized in London, this trip was planned away from the capital, with royal ceremonies occurring in Windsor. Trump and First Lady Melania took a helicopter to Windsor Castle, where they received a warm welcome from King Charles III and enjoyed a scenic carriage ride as military bands played anthems from both the United States and the United Kingdom.
Throughout the day, a smaller group of protesters gathered outside the castle, facing a substantial police presence and numerous international media crews. Tara Heinemann, a protester, expressed her discontent, stating, “I really don’t think the royal family should be hosting him. We never, ever want to be a puppet of the Trump regime.” Another protester, Grace Nathew, echoed these sentiments, calling attention to Trump's rhetoric and policies towards marginalized communities.
Onsite, signs conveyed sentiments such as “Trump your politics stink” and “Go away. You are polluting Windsor.” While the protests proceeded, two individuals were arrested near Windsor: one for allegedly assaulting an emergency worker and the other for suspected public order violations. Tensions also increased earlier, when four protestors were arrested concerning a stunt that projected images of Trump alongside Jeffrey Epstein onto Windsor Castle itself, highlighting Trump's controversial links to the disgraced financier. The political group Led by Donkeys, responsible for the projection, criticized the arrests as an overreaction, asserting their actions did not violate any laws.
