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Is Trump's UK visit on hold over protest fears?

June 11, 2017

The US president reportedly told the British premier that he would not visit the UK until "the British public supports him," reported The Guardian. But Downing Street said there has been no change of plans.

https://p.dw.com/p/2eTnJ
USA Donald Trump (picture alliance/AP Photo/E. Vucci)
Image: picture alliance/AP Photo

US President Donald Trump told British Prime Minister Theresa May that he did not want to visit the UK "until the British public supports him coming," reported British daily The Guardian.

According to the sources, Trump reportedly said during a telephone conversation with May that he did not want to make an official visit if there were mass protests against him.

Read more: Trump's planned UK state visit divides Brits

Shortly after the news broke, the British government responded by saying there had been no change to plans for Trump's state visit.

"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," said May's spokeswoman.

May was the first foreign leader to meet with Trump following the president's inauguration in January. During her official visit, she extended an official invitation for Trump to visit the UK.

Unwelcome visit?

Since Trump's inauguration, many in the UK have been wary of Trump's potential visit. In January, a petition against Trump's state visit garnered over one million signatures days after the official invitation had been extended.

"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 said.

Read more: Trump 'still welcome' in UK despite London mayor spat

In June, in response to the US president's disparaging comments about a deadly terrorist attack, London Mayor Sadiq Khan called on the British government to cancel Trump's visit, saying "his policies go against everything we stand for." However, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson confirmed the visit would go forward despite the feud.

ls/rc (Reuters, AFP)