LONDON — President Donald Trump traded pageantry for politics Thursday as he ended a lavish stay hosted by Britain’s King Charles III at Windsor Castle and met with Prime Minister Keir Starmer at his country residence, Chequers.
Trump praised the “bond of kinship and identity between America and the United Kingdom” as “priceless and eternal” during an opulent banquet in Windsor, where Britain’s royals pulled out all the stops to impress their guest of honor on his unprecedented second state visit.
But cold geopolitical reality may set in as he sits down with Starmer, followed by a joint news conference that could test those warm sentiments with a range of thorny issues likely to be raised.
Starmer has lavished Trump with praise and royal pomp in a bid to curry favor with Washington as Britain looks to deepen its economic ties with the U.S., ease tariffs and hold difficult conversations on Israel’s offensive in Gaza and Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The pair are expected to sign a multibillion-dollar “tech prosperity deal” that British officials hope will bring thousands of jobs and sweeping investment to the U.K.
“Our countries have the closest defense, security and intelligence relationship ever known,” Charles said in his speech addressing Trump after rolling out the royal red carpet. “In two World Wars, we fought together to defeat the forces of tyranny. Today, as tyranny once again threatens Europe, we and our allies stand together in support of Ukraine, to deter aggression and secure peace.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the king early Thursday “for his steadfast support,” with sanctions on Russia and security guarantees for Kyiv continued sticking points between Washington, London and other European powers.
The British government has meanwhile been increasingly critical of Israel’s deadly offensive in Gaza, including its new assault on famine-stricken Gaza City. The U.K. is soon expected to join a number of countries in recognizing Palestinian statehood, a move that has outraged Israeli officials.
There may also be tricky questions about the febrile atmosphere each leader is dealing with at home. Trump arrived in Britain in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s fatal shooting, while his host has been beset by far-right protests, sinking poll ratings and a recent scandal that could see Jeffrey Epstein hang over Thursday’s diplomatic events.
Even at Windsor Castle, protesters projected images of Trump alongside Epstein in an act of protest that saw four people arrested.
The meeting with Starmer also comes days after Britain’s ambassador to the U.S., Peter Mandelson, was fired following revelations about his own ties to Epstein.
And on the streets of London thousands attended a protest march that culminated with a rally outside Parliament.
In recent polling highlighting British sentiments toward the president, 70% of Britons said they disliked Trump and 44% said they thought his state visit should be canceled.
With Trump steered clear of Britain’s capital, the president is expected to be welcomed on Thursday at Starmer’s country house by a ceremonial honor guard, with bagpipers paying homage to Trump’s Scottish heritage, according to The Associated Press.
The president is also expected to be shown items from the archive of Winston Churchill, who coined the term “special relationship,” which has long been used to describe the bond, however fraught at times, between the U.S. and the U.K.
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed.