President Donald Trump arrived in the UK for an unprecedented second state visit, as we went press. The US president and First Lady Melania Trump touched down at London Stansted on Tuesday evening aboard Air Force One, ahead of a packed schedule over the next two days. The itinerary includes meetings with King Charles, military parades, and a possible flypast by the Red Arrows alongside British and American F-35 jets.
Just hours before landing, Trump wished Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi a happy 75th birthday during a phone call, later sharing the exchange on Truth Social. Modi reciprocated, publicly thanking the US president for his wishes (more on Page 25).
For UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has faced a turbulent fortnight following the forced resignations of Deputy Angela Rayner and UK ambassador Peter Mandelson, the visit presents an opportunity to reset political momentum and position Britain as a hub for American investment.
On Wednesday, Trump will be greeted by King Charles at Windsor Castle for a day of ceremonial grandeur, including a carriage procession, gun salute, military flypast and a state banquet, designed to underscore the enduring “special relationship” between the two nations.
Ahead of Trump’s arrival, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the creation of a “Transatlantic Taskforce” to deepen cooperation between the world’s two largest financial centres. Business leaders including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and OpenAI’s Sam Altman are among those expected to attend investment forums. Google confirmed it would invest £5 billion ($6.8 billion) in the UK, including a new data centre outside London to meet growing demand for artificial intelligence services.
A Downing Street spokesperson described the visit as “a historic opportunity” at “a crucial time for global stability and security.”
Yet the trip is already overshadowed by controversy. Mandelson’s dismissal over his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has cast a diplomatic shadow, raising awkward questions about Starmer’s judgment and potential discomfort for Trump, who has faced scrutiny over his own past association with Epstein. The episode is expected to loom over Thursday’s meeting at Chequers, the prime minister’s country retreat, where the two leaders will discuss tariffs on steel and aluminium, Ukraine’s war with Russia, and the ongoing crisis in Gaza.
Protests are expected as criticism of Trump’s policies and rhetoric mounts in the UK. The Stop Trump Coalition staged a demonstration in Windsor on Tuesday and plans another in central London on Wednesday.
Writing in The Guardian, London Mayor Sadiq Khan accused Trump of doing more than anyone else in recent years to “fan the flames of divisive, far-right politics around the world.” Khan described the US president’s domestic use of the military and targeting of minorities as “straight out of the autocrat’s playbook.”
While acknowledging the pragmatic need for strong UK–US ties, Khan argued that Britain should not shy away from criticising a leader who has “perhaps done the most to fan the flames of divisive, far-right politics.”
He added that the special relationship “includes being open and honest with each other,” noting that this sometimes requires being a critical friend and speaking truth to power. Khan previously clashed with Trump during the president’s first state visit in 2019.
On Tuesday, around 70 protesters gathered outside Windsor Castle for the start of a series of demonstrations against Trump’s historic second visit. The group peacefully marched from Windsor High Street to the castle’s King Henry VIII gateway.
Security preparations have been extensive, with Windsor Castle turned into a “ring of steel” to protect against demonstrations and potential disruptions. Trump will be accompanied by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is scheduled to hold talks with newly appointed UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper.
For Starmer, the stakes are high: he must use the optics of royal ceremony and US investment to steady his premiership after weeks of political missteps, even as protests and past scandals threaten to overshadow the carefully choreographed spectacle.
