There’s no denying Trump’s true nature any more. But what will it take to stop another visit to the UK? | Zoe Williams
GuardianFEB 26
Trump Reveals Plans for September UK Visit
Above: U.S. President Donald Trump walks with the U.K.'s then-Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, as he arrives for a welcome ceremony at Buckingham Palace in central London on June 3, 2019. Image copyright: TOBY MELVILLE/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Left narrative
Trump's second U.K. state visit should be firmly protested and ultimately canceled. The visit legitimizes a figure who threatens global stability, emboldens the far right, and disrespects international law. The U.K. must stop acting like America's lackey and start charting an independent, ethical foreign policy. The U.K. needs diplomacy, not deference, and principle over pageantry.
Right narrative
Welcoming Trump for a second U.K. state visit is a savvy and pragmatic move. Like him or loathe him, the U.K.'s strategic dependence on the U.S. — militarily, economically, and diplomatically — demands serious engagement, not virtue-signaling outcry. The U.K. cannot afford to jeopardize critical alliances or trade prospects to score domestic political points. Diplomacy must trump drama.