President Trump has landed on UK soil for what is his second state visit. He called the opportunity a “great honour,” as it represented a high-water mark. His Majesty King Charles III is uniquely welcoming this visit at Windsor Castle. It follows on the UK signing a bilateral trade agreement with the Trump administration in May—a move that expressed the close diplomatic relationship between the two countries.
Donald Trump arrives at London Stansted Airport, welcomed by new UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper. In electoral politics, Trump is looking to shore up support on multiple fronts. He’s joined by First Lady Melania Trump and a delegation of the US’ biggest execs—most notably Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and OpenAI’s Sam Altman.
Trump’s overnight accommodations in London will be at Winfield House. This is the current official residence of the US ambassador, located in Regent’s Park. He is due to make an official visit to Windsor Castle on Wednesday for a ceremonial welcome and a state banquet. Trump especially stressed the importance of his friendship with the UK and King Charles III.
“My relationship is very good with the UK, and Charles, as you know, who’s now King, is my friend. It’s the first time this has ever happened where somebody was honoured twice. So, it’s a great honour.” – Donald Trump
Though the visit is being hailed in some quarters, it is likely to be met with massive demonstrations. Thousands of demonstrators are anticipated to gather during Trump’s stay in the UK, reflecting the mixed sentiments surrounding his presence.
Trump is free-forming this trip, with no public-facing sessions aside from ceremonial duties at Windsor Castle. He hinted at potential tariff relief for UK steel ahead of talks with Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Chequers, signaling possible shifts in trade policy.
“I’m there also on trade. They want to see if they can refine the trade deal a little bit. We’ve made a deal, and it’s a great deal, and I’m into helping them.” – Donald Trump
This visit is particularly special given the current moment. The two countries are preparing to sign a landmark technology agreement that will deepen collaboration between their respective multi-trillion-dollar technology sectors. This partnership is an important step towards strengthening economic relations and promoting innovation between both countries.
