WINDSOR, England (AP) 鈥 U.S. President Donald Trump is in the United Kingdom for a two-day state visit that aims to show the trans-Atlantic bond remains strong, despite differences over Ukraine, the Middle East and the future of the Western alliance.
at Windsor Castle where the president will be treated to the best of royal pageantry Wednesday: horse-drawn carriage rides, honor guards, a lavish white-tie banquet and more.
Trump is the first U.S. president and world leader to get invited to to the U.K. After his royal welcome, he will hold talks with on Thursday at Chequers, the British leader鈥檚 rural retreat.
Here’s the latest:
Dozens of groups will protest against Trump in London
While Trump will not be seen in any public-facing events during his two-day trip, police are preparing for a signification operation in central London, where as many as 50 protest groups are expected to march against Trump鈥檚 visit.
The Metropolitan Police said 1,600 officers will be deployed on Wednesday, including 500 assisting from other forces.
Activists say they will demonstrate against what they called 鈥渙ur government鈥檚 choice to honor a man who is violating human rights in the United States and around the world.鈥
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 right that we鈥檙e having Trump come for the second state visit due to his horrible rhetoric, policies and actions towards women and people of colour,鈥 said Grace Nathew, one of a small group of protesters staging a demonstration near Windsor Castle on Tuesday.
Police said they arrested four people Tuesday over a stunt that saw an image of Trump and Epstein projected on a tower at Windsor Castle, a reminder of the president鈥檚 relationship with the disgraced financier.
London鈥檚 mayor says Trump fans flames of division
President Donald Trump will largely avoid London during his state visit. And that鈥檚 fine by the city鈥檚 mayor.
Sadiq Khan wrote in The Guardian newspaper that Trump and his allies has helped 鈥渇an the flames of divisive, far-right politics around the world.鈥 He said Trump鈥檚 mass deportations and sending troops to U.S. cities are moves 鈥渟traight out of the autocrat鈥檚 playbook.鈥
Ahead of a planned protest on Wednesday against the president鈥檚 visit, Khan wrote: 鈥淚鈥檓 sure many Londoners will speak up to tell President Trump and his followers that we cannot be divided by those who seek to sow fear.鈥
Khan, a member of the governing Labour Party who has been London mayor since 2016, has traded criticism with Trump since the president’s campaign pledge in 2015 to ban Muslims from entering the U.S.
In July the president said Khan has 鈥渄one a terrible job鈥 and is a 鈥渘asty person.鈥
Carriages and a sumptuous state dinner
Hundreds of soldiers, gardeners and chefs are putting the final touches on their preparations to ensure Trump and first lady Melania Trump get the full royal treatment.
After welcoming the Trumps in a formal ceremony, Charles, Queen Camilla and dozens of soldiers will accompany them on a carriage ride through the Windsor estate.
They will return to the castle for military ceremonies featuring hundreds of troops. Trump will be invited to review the guard of honor in scarlet tunics and tall bearskin hats.
The highlight of the visit will be a state banquet later Wednesday at Windsor Castle, where Charles and other royals will join their guests around the massive Waterloo Table.
The mahogany table, which has space for 160 guests, will be laid with the Grand Service 鈥 a silver-gilt dining service that includes more than 4,000 pieces ranging from serving dishes to dinner plates and egg cups.
Flags and protests in Windsor
The mood in Windsor was largely festive as the town makes last-minute preparations for Trump鈥檚 state visit.
American and U.K. flags are fastened to lamp posts with gold tassels, waving over the heads of tourists weaving their way past the security cordon surrounding the 1,000-year-old castle that will be the center of the ceremonies on Wednesday.
Harry Law, 22, traveled from Folkestone on the south coast of England, hoping to get a glimpse of the man he called 鈥淥range Hair.鈥欌
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 get to see a president every day,鈥欌 he said. 鈥淚 still haven鈥檛 seen our prime minister.鈥欌
About two dozen people gathered late Tuesday near Windsor Castle to protest the visit, chanting 鈥淒ump Trump鈥 and 鈥淭rump go home.鈥 A larger protest against Trump is planned for Wednesday in central London.
Nvidia, OpenAI bosses are part of US delegation
Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman are expected to be among the business leaders in the U.S. delegation.
Media reports suggest that Nvidea and OpenAI will unveil billions of dollars鈥 worth of investment into U.K. data centers this week amid Trump’s state visit.
Starmer and Trump are also expected to sign a technology partnership, accompanied by major investments in nuclear energy, life sciences and Artificial Intelligence data centers.
Differences over Ukraine and Gaza
While Starmer has shown he is adept at charming Trump, his efforts to influence the president to maintain U.S. support for Ukraine has had with limited results.
Last week鈥檚 Russian drew strong condemnation from European NATO allies, and pledges of more planes and troops for the bloc鈥檚 eastern flank. Trump played down the incident鈥檚 severity, musing that it 鈥 鈥
Starmer also departs from Trump over Israel鈥檚 war in Gaza. He has said the U.K. will formally at the United Nations later this month.
Trade talks to feature during visit
On Tuesday Trump told reporters that U.K. officials want to continue trade negotiations during his visit.
鈥淭hey鈥檇 like to see if they can get a little bit better deal, so we鈥檒l talk to them,鈥 he said.
Starmer鈥檚 government is keen to secure favorable trade terms with the U.S., the U.K.鈥檚 largest single economic partner, accounting for 18% of total British trade.
A May trade agreement reduces U.S. tariffs on Britain鈥檚 key auto and aerospace industries. But a final deal has not been reached over other sectors, including pharmaceuticals, steel and aluminum.
