Trump Praises UK, Rebukes London’s Mayor: U.S. President Donald Trump’s second state visit to the United Kingdom was always destined to generate headlines, but few could have predicted just how dramatically pomp and politics would collide. Over the course of three days in mid-September, Trump was showered with royal honors, courted by Britain’s leaders, and praised for reaffirming the “special relationship” between Washington and London. Yet on the streets of the capital, mass demonstrations and simmering discontent over immigration cast a very different shadow on the festivities.
And in a moment that stole much of the spotlight, Trump reignited his feud with London Mayor Sadiq Khan, dismissing him as a failure unworthy of even a meeting.
“I don’t need to meet the mayor. He’s done nothing but fail this city,” Trump declared, speaking to reporters ahead of a working session with Prime Minister Keir Starmer. “He’s a disaster for London. Look at immigration, look at crime — it’s out of control.”
The cutting remarks echoed Trump’s earlier clashes with Khan, who has frequently criticized the U.S. president on issues ranging from immigration to climate policy. Khan, for his part, fired back before the visit began, saying Trump “represents division, not unity,” and making clear that he would not take part in any of the ceremonial events.
Royal Pomp at Windsor Castle
If Khan was a notable absence, the British royal family more than filled the ceremonial stage. Trump was welcomed at Windsor Castle with a red-carpet reception, complete with military honors, carriage processions, and a glittering state banquet.
King Charles III hailed the visit as “a new chapter in an old story of friendship,” stressing the deep historical and cultural bonds between the two countries. Trump, standing alongside the monarch, called the U.K. “America’s eternal ally” and insisted that together the two nations remain “the guardians of freedom and stability in the world.”
It was a symbolic moment. No other U.S. president has been invited twice for a full state visit, underscoring both the diplomatic weight of the occasion and the royal household’s determination to reinforce transatlantic ties.
A Successful Diplomatic Showcase
Behind the pomp, Trump’s visit also yielded concrete agreements. U.S. technology and infrastructure firms pledged billions of dollars in new investment in Britain over the next decade, while defense cooperation was strengthened through reaffirmations of the AUKUS security pact and joint commitments to Ukraine.
Prime Minister Starmer described the visit as “highly successful,” emphasizing that the deals would deliver jobs, innovation, and stability at a time when Britain is navigating a post-Brexit economic landscape. For Trump, the outcomes provided an opportunity to present himself not just as a showman amid royal grandeur, but as a dealmaker advancing American and British interests alike.
Streets Filled with Protests
Yet beyond Windsor’s walls, a very different story was unfolding. In central London, thousands of demonstrators gathered to voice opposition to both Trump’s visit and wider immigration policies in the U.S. and U.K. Organized by migrant advocacy groups and trade unions, the protests highlighted the plight of asylum seekers and refugees, as well as broader frustrations over government approaches to border control.
Chants of “Refugees welcome” and “No to Trump, no to hate” filled Trafalgar Square. Inflatable effigies of the president — including the now-famous “Trump baby blimp” — made a return, underscoring how divisive his presence remains in Britain.
The demonstrations were largely peaceful, but the scale of participation revealed how immigration continues to dominate Britain’s political and social debates.
A Divided Public
At the same time, there is an undercurrent of public sentiment running in the opposite direction. While protesters called for compassion toward migrants, many locals — particularly outside London’s cosmopolitan core — expressed support for tighter immigration controls.
In towns across England, there have been rising calls for migrants and asylum seekers to “return to their own countries,” reflecting concerns over jobs, housing, and pressure on public services. Some residents told local media that immigration had “changed communities beyond recognition” and argued that political leaders were “out of touch” with grassroots frustrations.
Trump’s own rhetoric appeared to echo these sentiments. By linking Khan’s leadership to immigration and crime, he tapped into anxieties felt by a portion of the British public who believe current policies have failed to balance humanitarian obligations with the practical challenges of integration.
Trump vs. Khan: A Feud Reignited
The renewed clash between Trump and Sadiq Khan was not just personal; it symbolized deeper divisions in British society. For Trump, Khan embodies the liberal, globalist politics he has long opposed. For Khan, Trump represents nationalism, exclusion, and division. Their public feud provided a microcosm of the broader tensions that continue to shape both U.S. and U.K. politics — tensions between cosmopolitan cities and traditional towns, between open borders and closed ones, between inclusivity and security.
Unity at the Top, Division Below
In many ways, Trump’s state visit laid bare the paradox of modern U.S.-U.K. relations. At the top, leaders and royals spoke of eternal friendship, celebrated military alliances, and announced major economic agreements. On the streets, however, Britons were divided, with one camp demanding compassion for migrants and another calling for stricter rules and even repatriation.
Trump himself straddled these contradictions — basking in royal ceremony while simultaneously provoking controversy with his attacks on London’s mayor and his unapologetic stance on immigration.
A Visit to Be Remembered
As Air Force One departed Britain, Trump declared the trip a “tremendous success,” emphasizing that the “special relationship has never been stronger.” King Charles echoed the sentiment, praising the enduring alliance as “priceless and irreplaceable.”
Yet for many, the legacy of the visit will not only be the grandeur of Windsor or the investments signed but also the image of a president unafraid to inflame debates that cut to the heart of British society.
Trump’s words about Sadiq Khan — “a disaster for London” — will likely be remembered as much as his promises of eternal friendship. For better or worse, they captured the essence of his visit: a spectacle of unity at the top, shadowed by deep divisions below.
