How very dare he!

If I'm allowed to voice an opinion, I think Mrs Trump is gorgeous, tall, elegant and appears to keep her own counsel! I admire his choice of partner. Pity she won't be thinking of joining Gransnet

"Rabelaisian means vulgar" is a terrible definition of a respectable lit crit term!

Rebelaisian means vulgar.

Alexa, I in no way admire Donald Trump, particularly with regard to his looks, I don’t find him to be handsome or attractive in any way whatsoever.

However, when the insults become childish and immature, as well as rude and unbecoming, I do not think that makes me a prude, it simply makes me polite.

Phoenix wrote a Rabelaisian response. I regret if any wise and experienced gran be prudish

Phoenix had written:

"urmstongran whether or not I'm "gorgeous" is neither here nor there, cheap shot. But as you are a declared Trump fan, then no doubt you would probably think his looks are entirely natural, his farts (if indeed he does fart) smell of roses in the morning, and sandalwood & jasmine in the evening, and make a wonderful noise akin to "Ode to Joy" when (if) air does pass between his firm and (naturally) tanned buttocks.

Oops, not "Ode to Joy" of course, as that is the anthem for Europe, perhaps it might be more appropriate if it was something else?"

Maddyone, your response is a little prudish. I agree that Donald Trump is still a big handsome man and I can sympathise with ladies and gentlemen who mistake charisma for quality. I also appreciate expressively Rabelaisian writers like Phoenix.

The elderly Queen has quality. Donald Trump has charisma how else could he have become the president?

I too feel sorry that the Queen in her dignified old age has to get her hands dirty, but she did hard work too during the war when she was a motor vehicle mechanic

phoenix, re your post of 02/06/19 at 19.14, I find it almost unbelievable that a ‘mature’ woman (or man) can write such a vile and undignified post.
Disgusting, and not the kind of thing I expected to read on Gransnet. Obviously foolishly, I expected reasoned debate, not the kind of comment one would expect to find in the playground, and in the school I taught at, such language would have been rewarded with it being pointed out that it’s not the kind of language expected in our school and some loss of privileges.
Is this what we have come to, playground insults?

Grandad1943 Just how childish can one get. Grow up!

Diplomatic relations with extremist President Trump are still in order. Talking is still possible with these extreme right wing leaders, especially when the Queen is as always impeccable.

Regan Reagan

IMV our Queen is brilliant and can cope with anything. Her smile, when meeting President Trump, was on her lips and in her eyes which shows it was real and sincere.
Who knows, HM might secretly admire his 'say it like it is' attitude after all, her husband, the DoE is the same.
I don't think Ma'am is so inculcated into the Royal lifestyle that she can't appreciate people who have lived very differently. I'm sure she enjoys jokes and can be a bit ribald in private.
Gawd knows she's seen and heard it all.
HM got on well with that B movie actor Ronald Regan who was famously spoofed with half a walnut for a brain.
She might be sick of 'normal' and obsequious fawners and appreciate when things go a bit Pete Tong.
Something to laugh about later with Angela.

I can't think why the Queen would look anything other than happy. She loves the big state occasions. She's the perfect hostess and is mindful that visiting heads of state, no matter how arrogant and pompous they might be, are diminished by her presence so is keen to put them at their ease.

I am thinking back to the documentary where she wandered around the palace gardens with David Attenborough. As a 'plane flew low overhead she said, with a twinkle in her eye, something along the lines of, 'Do you think Mr. Trump might be dropping in?' This was shortly after his last visit and was a lovely example of her sense of humour because she knew the remark would not be edited out.

She's far too clever to give anything away by her expression when meeting somebody who is a guest in her country.

She looked happy to me. She was in her element. I reckon she just enjoys meeting other heads of states. Probably doesn't care a lot what they're actually like, so long as they are polite.

Urmstongran you said that MD made repetitive remarks. Look back over you own posts regarding mine!

No inside knowledge, but somehow I doubt if HM was overjoyed at meeting Trump. It was, as has been pointed out, a photo, easy to capture a fleeting look. Of course she smiled, she is a professional, and polite at all times. She could hardly have greeted him with a scowl, could she?

Urmstongran so you are "of the opinion that HM looked very happy, not just protocol demanded politeness"

You are of course entitled to hold, and express any opinion you choose, as indeed am I.

HM is a class act and more than capable of faking feelings if the day calls for it.
This presidential visit coincides with the 75th anniversary of D Day. The Queen is one of an increasingly small number of people who lived through that time. As a Head of State, she recognises and acknowledges the importance of a visit from any HoS - including the current President. I loathe the individual but I respect the Office.
for that reason I'm disappointed the Labour leader isn't at the state Banquet tonight. especially given the historic significance of this 75th anniversary. I don't know how many American service personnel gave their lives on those beaches but it was thousands. It seems petty minded to me to ignore that sacrifice from a key ally . I wish we'd had a PM like Harold Wilson, who refused to support the US in Vietnam, rather than Tony Blair who made the unforgivable error in supporting Bush in the invasion of Iraq. Both countries made huge mistakes at that time. We live with the consequences and despite my dislike of Trump, he represents the US - we have shared history and will no doubt need each other in years to come.

Well I’m of the opinion that HM looked very happy, not just protocol demanded politeness.
?

Nah, Urmston, I don't think she finds it fun. She's doing her job brilliantly. She's a pro and it shows. Amazingly gracious after the banter which began before he'd even set foot on British soil. He should have shown the same level of diplomacy instead of re-igniting his old spat with Khan. Khan should have backed off and let the tweet hang in the ether clearly showing DT to be the antagonist.

Actually, looking at the photo of her greeting him, I can't get over how much the Queen seems to like Trump.

Her eyes lit up when she greeted him. She's just glowing!

More than ‘polite’.
Happy!

Look at the smiles from HM and the body language - you can't fake that!

The man's half British and a full patriot. I don’t think she’s the prissy waxwork people portray her as. She's clued up and smart!

And I don’t think your remarks are venomous MD

Repetitive, yes but venomous, no.

?

Never heard a remainer make any of those arguments Urmstongran. All the ones I know accepted the result of the Referendum,

I'd be interested to know, MOnica, if they have accepted the result despite knowing that it is unsafe because of the fraud and illegality perpetrated by some of the Leave campaigns, or, if they are unaware of the said fraud and illegality?

Accepting a winner in good faith is one thing, but accepting a winner even though you know it cheated is a rather different proposition.

And if you think this is venomous, Ug, you clearly are speaking a completely different English from the English I speak.

Hope Trump shows some manners to the queen this time. Will definitely read Michelle Obamas's book. Sounds fascinating.

Political sophistication is the opposite of 'knee jerk reaction'. The 'I have always voted Labour/Conservative and I always will' statement.

Nothing to do with education, all about people who do, or do not, think about political issues before they cast their vote and have some understanding of the issues.

The person I heard on a vox pop saying they were voting leave because the retirement age for women had been increased and they thought leaving the EU would ensure that policy was changed, is not among them.

Calendargirl I agree and another example is our Queen, 93 and still carrying out her royal duties.

Or maybe he won’t be petulant and embarrassing. Now there’s a measured though

He probably will not be embarrassing at all although the media and many haters will try to find something or make something up.

The fact is that Donald Trump is a member of the same class as Obama and Hills Clinton. He knows them. He has worked with them, moved in the same circles. He does not share their politics. He is a businessman. He is a threat in that regard and has to be vilified, but as a member of their social group ( class even) he knows how to behave, he knows how to eat with a knife and fork and he knows how to be charming and polite. He has made his business out of it - and he is the first president for a long time not to take his presidential salary because he is wealthy enough not to need it ( so are the others but they were greedy and took it anyway) .

He is reasonably smart too. He has written books and made millions, not from brothels as is the claim of some here. Yes, he started out wealthy from his family but he added to it. He has a degree in economics. Like many millionaires he has lost fortunes , made them again and lost again. That is how the game is played in business. He isnt petulant. That wouldn't get him anywhere in business. He is decisive. He knows when to stand his ground and when to cut his deals. Does that make him a bully? Maybe, maybe not. Bullies tend to be overbearing failures who feel threatened in my experience and they are largely incompetent and use bullying to throw off the flack for that.

I am not saying Trump is perfect. Of course he has a ruthless streak. Good leaders do.

That is my interpretation of Trump instead of the usual received wisdom. Make up your won minds.

The nastiness and falsehood proclaimed is astonishing sometimes.