By Neil Johnstone
Copyright scotsman
On Wednesday (September 17) the controversial US President was welcomed with a ceremony involving 1,300 service men making it the largest guard of honour for any state visit to the UK. This year’s itinerary includes meeting the Royal Family and the prime minister, a state banquet at St George’s Hall, a Red Arrows flypast and a day at Chequers. But his 48-hour visit may not just consist of pageantry and pomp as it is thought that the trip will be used to discuss diplomacy with Keir Starmer. Trump’s last UK visit in 2019 cost the taxpayer around £3.9million with the large majority of that sum being spent on policing. Opinions were divided amongst readers when asked how they feel about Donald Trump being in the UK this week – with some having said they wish he was the UK’s prime minister and others having described him as ‘an immoral monster’. Stay on track with all of Edinburgh’s biggest and latest stories with the Edinburgh Evening News daily newsletter. One said: “Of course [he is welcome], he’s the American President our biggest ally and a great leader.” Another reader added that they believe President Trump ‘speaks the truth’. One held the President in high regard, pointing to the potential whisky tariff deal and jobs provided from his golf courses. Several called him a ‘great President’ who is better than his predecessors with one claiming: “The UK would be in a better place if we had Donald Trump.” Another said they ‘wish he was our prime minister’ with another quickly responding ‘so do the smart people in the US, because then he wouldn’t be their president’. It’s fair to say others didn’t feel the same way – and a protest against Trump’s visit is expected to take place in the Meadows on Thursday night. One described Trump as ‘one of the most despicable humans on the planet’ adding ‘Farage and Starmer are not far behind’. One said: “He’s a felon in his own country. We should not be entertaining his presence here under any circumstances.” Some described him as a ‘repulsive man’ who’s state visit ‘costs the tax payer too much’. Another added: “He is being honoured in a way no previous US president has been honoured and he doesn’t deserve it. I feel sorry for the King who has to put up with him.” One joked Trump should ‘definitely’ visit as ‘he could take Starmer back to the States with him’ with another adding ‘just FaceTime each other lads? Save about a million in fuel alone’.
