Donald Trump US President set to visit to Britain this year
May proposed that Trump make a state visit to Britain a year ago,
but there was speculation it would be cancelled because of strong public
and political opposition to the president in Britain.
US President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister discussed an array of issues at their talks in Davos(AFP)
US President Donald Trump agreed with Prime Minister Theresa May on Thursday that he would make his long-planned trip to Britain later this year, her office said.
The two leaders, who met at the World Economic Forum in Davos, asked officials "to work together on finalising the details of a visit by the president to the UK later this year", a Downing Street spokesman said.
May
proposed that Trump make a state visit to Britain a year ago, but there
was speculation it would be cancelled because of strong public and
political opposition to the president in Britain.
A
senior British government source was unable to say whether Trump would
receive the prestigious welcome initially offered, or whether his
appearance would be scaled down to a working visit.
A
state visit includes full British pomp: staying with Queen Elizabeth
II, a ceremonial welcome, set-piece speeches and lavish banquets.
The
visit was likely in the "second half" of the year, the source said, but
stressed that the leaders had not discussed venues or details.
In
its readout of the meeting, the White House said the pair discussed
plans for "a working visit to London in the coming months".
It added that they "affirmed the 'special relationship' between the two countries is stronger than ever."
Trump had been expected to travel to London earlier this month for the grand opening of a new, state-of-the-art US embassy here.
But he cancelled the trip, voicing displeasure at the cost and the location of the new building.
His
move followed a Twitter spat between May and Trump over his retweeting
of British far-right propaganda as well as warnings of mass protests.
The source said Trump's retweets were not discussed at their 40-minute meeting in the Swiss ski resort.
Instead, they discussed Iran, Syria, Brexit, future trade ties and jobs in Northern Ireland.
More formal atmosphere
May
was the first foreign leader to visit Trump at the White House
following his inauguration in January 2017, where they were pictured
holding hands.
The atmosphere was more
formal on Thursday, the source said, although the president greeted May
at the entrance to the meeting room, and they ended by shaking hands.
Following
May's invitation last year, nearly 1.9 million people signed a petition
opposing a Trump state visit, claiming it would embarrass the monarch.
Jo
Swinson, deputy leader of Britain's Liberal Democrats, the
fourth-biggest party in parliament, said: "Trump is a dangerous,
misogynistic racist and is deserving of the protests he will undoubtedly
face."
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