Donald Trump UK visit: Tempers flare as pro and anti-Trump protesters gather outside Buckingham Palace

Supporters of Donald Trump argue with police officers outside Buckingham Palace during day one of the president's official state visit of the UK.
REUTERS

Protesters and supporters of Donald Trump have clashed outside Buckingham Palace as the US president begins his three-day state visit of the UK.

Thousands of anti-Trump protesters have arrived in London, with many more still expected, to participate in a wave of rallies against the American head of state.

But supporters have also gathered outside the Queen’s official London residence to cheer on Mr Trump, with many sporting his signature red Make America Great Again cap and chanting "USA”.

A group of fans assembled in front of a St George’s flag also began shouting “fake news” and “fifth columnists” at the row of media tents, before a shouting match broke out with passers-by.

One fan, Neil Clark, 39, from south east London, called the protests against Mr Trump “quite disrespectful” and “shameful”, describing himself as a “massive fan” of the American leader.

“Just his character, the energy he has, the passion he has. He's an amazing guy,” Mr Clark told MailOnline, having spent the morning awaiting the president’s arrival.

Trump supporters have clashed with protesters against the American president who is engaged in a heated dispute with London mayor Sadiq Khan.
REUTERS

Meanwhile, a protester dressed in a costume she called "the statue of taking liberties", said she did not think it was right that Mr Trump was allowed to make a state visit.

"Climate change is at the top of the agenda and he's not addressing that," said Auriel Glanville, 76, from London.

Speaking from outside the palace, Ms Glanville said she hoped Mr Trump's tea with Prince Charles later would be an opportunity to raise the issues of global warming and sustainability.

The giant message for Trump was mowed into a lawn under the flight path of Air Force One
@born_eco

It comes after a teenager left a creative kind of climate change warning in a field below Mr Trump’s Air Force One flightpath.

The message, mowed into a field near Stansted airport read “climate change is real”, accompanied by an outline of a penis and the words “oi Trump”.

Demonstrations are expected to continue throughout Monday afternoon outside Buckingham Palace, where the president enjoyed a private lunch with the Queen and will be treated to a state banquet tonight.

Lindsey German, one of the organisers of Monday’s ‘Spoil Trump’s Banquet’ said her group ‘Together Against Trump’ were planning a “special unwelcome” for Mr Trump.

Mr Trump and his wife Melania were greeted at Buckingham Palace by the Queen, with whom they then enjoyed a private lunch.
REUTERS

The largest anti-Trump protests are planned from 11am on Tuesday, when hundreds of thousands of protesters are set to line the streets of the capital as the president lunches with acting Prime Minister Theresa May.

In response, the Metropolitan Police will launch what they have called a “multi-faceted security operation” around Downing Street and parts of Whitehall.

Mr Trump already sparked political turbulence ahead of his first official state visit to the UK, by making comments on the Tory leadership race, Brexit and the Duchess of Sussex.

Speaking to reporters just before he left the US, he praised Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage, and rebuked London mayor Sadiq Khan, described the president on Sunday as "just one of the most egregious examples of a growing global threat.”

As he landed, Mr Trump fired off two tweets – incorrectly spelling the London mayor's name "Kahn" in one, and writing in another: "Sadiq Khan, who by all accounts has done a terrible job as Mayor of London, has been foolishly ‘nasty’ to the visiting President of the United States, by far the most important ally of the United Kingdom. He is a stone cold loser who should focus on crime in London, not me."

A spokesman for Mr Khan responded: "This is much more serious than childish insults which should be beneath the President of the United States.

"Sadiq is representing the progressive values of London and our country warning that Donald Trump is the most egregious example of a growing far-right threat around the globe, which is putting at risk the basic values that have defined our liberal democracies for more than 70 years."

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