US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrived in London on Tuesday for a second state visit, greeted with royal pomp and political scrutiny.
On Wednesday, Trump will be hosted by King Charles III at Windsor Castle, which he called “the ultimate setting,” praising the monarch as “an elegant gentleman.” He will also meet Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at Chequers for talks focusing on trade, security and international conflicts.
Royal spectacle and protests
Trump will receive Britain’s largest guard of honour for a visiting leader—1,300 personnel, a carriage procession, and a flypast by F-35s and the Red Arrows—culminating in a banquet at St George’s Hall. But the visit has also sparked protests in Windsor, where demonstrators projected anti-Trump images onto the castle. Locals remain divided, with some citing his divisive politics while others welcome the tourism boost.
Trade, technology and diplomacy
Coinciding with the visit, a “Tech Prosperity Deal” worth £31 billion was unveiled.
- Microsoft: £22 billion for AI and cloud infrastructure
- Google: £5 billion in cybersecurity and jobs
- Nvidia + OpenAI: UK-based sovereign AI platform
- Bank of America & Citi Group: £1.75 billion for expansion
The UK and US also pledged cooperation on nuclear power and space technology. Starmer’s office called the trip proof of the “enduring strength” of the transatlantic alliance.
Ukraine and foreign policy
Trump reiterated calls for Ukraine to strike a deal with Russia, criticising Europe’s continued energy imports from Moscow. “Zelenskyy has to make a deal. Europe has to stop buying oil from Russia,” he said, describing the war as one that “should never have happened.”
