Donald Trump will land in the UK tonight for a historic second state visit – the first for a US President – which highlights the “special bond” between the two nations, says a Republican who lives in the UK. “This is a really nice gesture by the Brits,” said Sarah Elliott, board member of Republicans Abroad in the UK and Director of the UK-US Special Relationship Unit. “It underscored the transatlantic alliance, despite Starmer being in office”.
After attending a lavish state banquet at Windsor Castle with the King and Queen on Wednesday, the US President will head to Buckinghamshire to meet with Sir Keir and Lady Starmer at his country home, Chequers. “I think this meeting will go well,” Ms Elliott – who lives in southwest London with her British husband and two daughters – told The Express. “They will look above their differences,” to likely discuss topics including energy, tech and even nuclear fusion. However, she said, America has fractured in two over recent events, and now Republicans are in despair over the way the UK is heading.
The US has become incredibly divided, Ms Elliot claimed, highlighted by the assassination of conservative activist and founding figure of Turning Point USA, Charlie Kirk, last week. On the right, the 31-year-old activist has been heralded as an inspiration to a new generation of Republicans. While on the left, he has been attacked as a divider who slammed civil rights, transgender rights and feminism.
US Vice President JD Vance said today that people who are celebrating the killing of Mr Kink should be held accountable, as he guest-hosted an episode of the Charlie Kirk Show: “Call them out, and hell, call their employer,” he said. “We don’t believe in political violence, but we do believe in civility.”
Republicans, who are more conservative, “have a great love for this country,” she continued. “They see American history as an extension of British history.
“They want this [US-UK] relationship to survive.”
Ms Elliott described Mr Trump’s second state visit as “unprecedented” and an acknowledgement by the British that “Trump admires and has invested a lot of his own money in the UK.”
Earlier this summer, Donald Trump travelled to Scotland for a five-day trip to enjoy his golf resorts. The US President has always been proud of his Scottish heritage on his mother’s side. During the trip, Mr Trump hosted Sir Keir Starmer and spoke in a joint press conference about his “great love for Scotland”.
While Mr Trump may hold the UK in high standing, many in the UK, however, do not share the same sentiment. A local protest in Windsor is planned for Tuesday evening by The Stop Trump Coalition, to coincide with his arrival. Then, a “Trump Not Welcome” demonstration has been planned by the same group in London on Wednesday. The group previously organised a protest against the US president’s visit in 2018, which drew around 250,000 attendees.
Yet, when asked if she believes the US President would be bothered by these demonstrations, Ms Elliott replied resoundingly: “He had these protests before, and he gets these protests in the US. As we say in America, he has bigger fish to fry.”