Donald Trump’s state visit to UK will not happen until summer 2018
DONALD Trump’s state visit to Britain will not happen until next summer at the earliest, it has been claimed.
A senior diplomat claimed Donald Trump’s state visit to Britain will not happen until 2018
The Government is not willing to accommodate the US President before hosting the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in spring, according to a senior diplomat.
“There is absolutely no appetite for hosting President Trump before CHOGM. Not on the Government’s behalf or indeed the royal household’s,” said the source.
The insider said the Foreign Office was doing everything in its power to prevent an “unofficial” visit.
“The Government is keen to make as much political capital as possible out of the trip, which means it has got to be a bells and whistles event, not simply a case of Trump turning up at the last minute and expecting to have tea with the Queen.”
CHOGM is a key event, with the Queen in attendance.
Theresa May invited President Trump to the UK seven days after his inauguration
Boris Johnson supports Trump's UK visit after London attack
There is absolutely no appetite for hosting President Trump before CHOGM
It will take on more significance than ever next year as Britain looks to forge new free trade deals with Commonwealth countries post-Brexit.
Last week, the Government confirmed that Trump’s state visit would not take place until “early next year”.
But that did not rule out the possibility of a low-key trip before 2018 if Trump is in Europe on other business. He owns two golf resorts in Scotland.
Seven days after his inauguration, Theresa May invited him to Britain, telling a press conference that she was “delighted the President has accepted that invitation”.
However, following widespread criticism, Trump is said to have told the PM he did not want to go ahead with it until the British public supported the idea.
The visit was not mentioned in last month’s Queen’s Speech, which usually outlines state visits scheduled for the duration of Parliament.
Last week, Trump and his wife Melania visited Paris for Bastille Day celebrations with French President Emmanuel Macron and wife Brigitte.