By Matt Watts

Copyright standard

Donald Trump landed in the UK for his historic second state visit on Tuesday evening amid protests and a scathing attack from London mayor Sadiq Khan.

The US President arrived on Air Force One at London Stansted airport shortly after 9pm on Tuesday evening.

He was due to stay overnight at the US ambassador’s residence in London before travelling to Windsor Castle on Wednesday, where he will be treated to a ceremonial welcome and a lavish state banquet.

There are no public-facing engagements for the president, with thousands expected to take part in protests against his two-day stay.

Protesters demonstrated close to Windsor Castle on Tuesday evening when a video mocking Donald Trump and his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein was projected onto the side of the castle where Trump will be staying.

Thousands are expected at a major protest in central London on Wednesday.

Before taking off to the UK the US president hinted at possible tariff relief for UK steel ahead of talks with Sir Keir Starmer at the Prime Minister’s country residence, Chequers, on Thursday.

While a major US-UK tech deal was announced that could bring billions of pounds of investment to the UK shortly after he touched down in the UK.

The “tech prosperity deal” will see the UK and US co-operate in areas including artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing and nuclear power.

It comes alongside £31 billion of investment in Britain from America’s top technology companies, including 30 billion dollars (£22 billion) from Microsoft.

Microsoft’s investment, the largest ever made by the company in the UK, will fund an expansion of Britain’s AI infrastructure, which Labour sees as a key part of its efforts to secure economic growth, and the construction of the country’s largest AI supercomputer.

But while Sir Keir Starmer will be keen to bring Mr Trump closer to the UK during his visit the Mayor of London Mr Khan reignited his feud with the President who said the US president has “done the most to fan the flames of divisive, far-right politics around the world in recent years”.

In an opinion piece for the Guardian newspaper, published a few hours before Trump landed Mr Khan – famously called a “stone cold loser” by the US president wrote: “When he came to the UK on his first state visit, I highlighted how the president had deliberately used xenophobia, racism and ‘otherness’ as an electoral tactic, introducing a travel ban on a number of Muslim-majority countries and praising white nationalists in Charlottesville, Virginia.“

“Six years later, the tactics we see from today’s White House seem no different.

“Scapegoating minorities, illegally deporting US citizens, deploying the military to the streets of diverse cities.

“These actions aren’t just inconsistent with western values – they’re straight out of the autocrat’s playbook.”

Trump said it was a “great honour” to be hosted by his “friend”, the King, at “the ultimate” Windsor Castle.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday ahead of landing, Mr Trump said: “My relationship is very good with the UK, and Charles, as you know, who’s now King, is my friend.

“It’s the first time this has ever happened where somebody was honoured twice. So, it’s a great honour.”

He added: “I’m there also on trade. They want to see if they can refine the trade deal a little bit.

“We’ve made a deal, and it’s a great deal, and I’m into helping them.”

Security is high in Windsor with large numbers of police around the castle in a “ring of steel”.

The Prince and Princess of Wales will greet the president and his wife in the grounds of the Windsor estate on Wednesday morning, before accompanying them to meet the King and Queen for an open-air greeting.

The Trumps, the King, Camilla, William, and Kate will then take part in a carriage procession through the estate to the castle, with the carriage ride joined by the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, which will provide a Sovereign’s Escort, as well as members of the armed forces and three military bands.

A ceremonial welcome with a guard of honour will be staged in the quadrangle of the castle, as is customary, followed by lunch with the royal family and a visit to see a Royal Collection exhibition within the castle.

The president and his wife will visit St George’s Chapel privately on Wednesday afternoon to lay a wreath on the tomb of Queen Elizabeth II, whom they both met on their first state visit.

They will then be treated to a flypast by the Red Arrows alongside UK and US F-35 military jets on the east lawn at Windsor Castle, as well as a special Beating Retreat military ceremony.

The Met Police has said that more than 1,600 officers will be deployed on Wednesday to respond to the protest against Donald Trump’s state visit.

There will be 500 officers drafted in from other police forces, Scotland Yard said.

Protesters are expected to gather at Portland Place from around 2pm and the march will begin by 3pm.

It will follow a route down Regent Street, Piccadilly Circus, Haymarket, Cockspur Street, Whitehall, Parliament Street and into Parliament Square.A rally will then be held at Parliament Square until 7pm.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Louise Puddefoot, who is in charge of the Met’s public order policing operation in London this week, said: “Around 50 protest groups are expected to gather together in central London on Wednesday, on what will be another busy day for officers.“

“The Met is used to delivering complex and large-scale policing operations to keep the public safe, and we have a comprehensive plan in place.“We have been in close contact with the organisers to ascertain their intentions, and we have engaged with local businesses and community representatives to understand the impact on them.

“We would ask all those taking part in the protest to be considerate to the local community, and ensure disruption is kept to a minimum.“We will approach this protest as we always do, policing without fear or favour, and ensuring that people can exercise their lawful rights, whilst being robust in dealing with crime or disorder.”