Donald Trump’s 2019 state visit to Windsor Castle to meet the British, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand head of state. The production’s celebratory welcome coronation was as starry-eyed as the ceremonial banquet that brought it to a close. It was another lavish and high-profile engagement that brought Trump to Britain, just outside London. There, he was greeted by King Charles and other members of the royal family. For both countries, the joint event represented the high point of U.S.-UK relations. It was timed perfectly with announcements of huge investments from American companies during Trump’s visit.
Upon arriving at Windsor Castle, Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were greeted with traditional pageantry befitting their status as a former presidential couple. The day was vibrant with ceremony. It all ended in a virtual state banquet where Trump then delivered the toast — first reminding the audience of the importance of the “English-speaking world.” He framed his remarks around the historical relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States.
On the second day of his visit, Trump will meet with new British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. This would happen on the second full day of his visit. These discussions will address a rich and complex set of issues. These are Russia’s illegal, disastrous war in Ukraine and several other harmful trade policies toward both countries.
While he was in London for his state visit, the U.K. announced a major breakthrough. It brought in around $204 billion (£150 billion) in investments from US companies. Blackstone is making a giant £90 billion ($122 billion) commitment to this investment package over the next 10 years. Prologis is investing £3.9 billion ($5.3 billion) to strengthen the life sciences and advanced manufacturing industries. With this investment expected to create approximately 7,600 jobs throughout the UK, quittingness industries rapidly expand to meet the demand.
The visit was not without controversy. Earlier this year, Trump subjected UK steel and aluminum imports to harsh 25% tariffs, which are still in place today. The timing of his state visit sparked significant protests in London, where thousands of demonstrators expressed their opposition to his leadership and policies. Protesters carried signs and chanted catchy rhymes, sending a strong message right across the Thames from the royal jubilee celebrations.
“The question you should be asking is: Is it better than where we were yesterday?” – Keir Starmer
In this one statement, Starmer has tapped into the current, contentious discourse on U.S.-UK relations, and how those relations have changed since the Trump administration. The Prime Minister’s remarks highlight the difficult realities at play as we seek to pivot our partnerships to meet new global challenges.
As Trump continues his engagements in the UK, both the ceremonial aspects and the underlying tensions highlight the multifaceted nature of international diplomacy today. What he achieves in his dialogue with Starmer could very well define the political and economic relationship between the two countries for decades to come.
