Trump to Postpone Visit to the UK Indefinitely
The Queen's speech today at the Opening of Parliament made no mention of a future state visit to the UK by President Trump, leading some to assume the trip has been cancelled.
According to British publication the Independent, "The monarch’s address to Parliament usually mentions all planned state visits, but that delivered by Queen Elizabeth on Wednesday only contained a reference to welcoming King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain in July."
Back in January, during Prime Minister Theresa May's visit to the White House, she extended an invitation to President Donald Trump and the First Lady from Queen Elizabeth II.
"I have today been able to convey her majesty the Queen's hope President Trump and the first lady would pay a state visit to the United Kingdom later this year, and I'm delighted the president accepted that invitation," May said.
Earlier this month, the president allegedly postponed his visit indefinitely following his deeply unpopular comments about the recent attack in London and his criticism the city's mayor, Sadiq Khan, via Twitter.
According to British publication The Guardian, "The US president said he did not want to come if there were large-scale protests and his remarks in effect put the visit on hold for some time."
However, at the time, the New York Times reported that, Trump "has not definitively ruled out going," but it is not currently on his schedule for the upcoming months.
A spokesperson for Downing Street would not comment on the rumors: "We aren’t going to comment on speculation about the contents of private phone conversations. The Queen extended an invitation to President Trump to visit the UK and there is no change to those plans."
But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who almost upset May in the recent snap election did weigh in, tweeting: "Cancellation of President Trump's State Visit is welcome, especially after his attack on London's mayor & withdrawal from #ParisClimateDeal."
Cancellation of President Trump's State Visit is welcome, especially after his attack on London's mayor & withdrawal from #ParisClimateDeal.
- Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) June 11, 2017
Trump's state visit has been controversial from the beginning. May's announcement in January was met with a petition calling for the British government to block Trump from meeting with the Queen.
"Donald Trump's well documented misogyny and vulgarity disqualifies him from being received by Her Majesty the Queen or the Prince of Wales," reads the document.
"Donald Trump should be allowed to enter the UK in his capacity as head of the US Government, but he should not be invited to make an official State Visit because it would cause embarrassment to Her Majesty the Queen," the petition continues.
It garnered over 1.8 million digital signatures, requiring parliament to weigh in.
The government issued a response in early May, "HM Government believes the President of the United States should be extended the full courtesy of a State Visit. We look forward to welcoming President Trump once dates and arrangements are finalised."
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