Keep Trump out of the UK!

Allira and Luckygirl

Except for extremists, people signing are most certainly not naive

We know exactly what we are aiming for - substantial numbers of voices saying "you are so unwelcome here we dont really want you to come but this demonstration/petition"

But knowing at the same time it is entirely necessary for the visit.

Large demonstrations, preferably on the streets where Trump goes, or lining the streets but turning backs , or demostraitons of other kinds

Spread the message of what Trump is really like. do we want it here?

Our politicians and diplomats are practicing diplomacy over this and playing the long game in our best interests. I have no doubt it makes them want to puke - but they are doing it for us.
Yes.

To sign a petition for the visit to be cancelled shows naïvety in the way the world of diplomacy works.

OK - we all sign this petition and, by some miracle - although I cannot see how as there are rules for these things - Trump's visit is cancelled.

So what then? ...... Tump is deeply offended and takes it out on us with tariffs, non-co-operation over defence and generally falling out with UK. Who gains? Is this a gain for the UK? Will we be better off?

Our politicians and diplomats are practicing diplomacy over this and playing the long game in our best interests. I have no doubt it makes them want to puke - but they are doing it for us.

Caleo

But why quote Mandelson? Did you have had a reason to single him out?

If Mandelson were here on Gransnet there would be posters who , like myself, take issue with him. Mandelson is not God Almighty.

But he is British Ambassador to the USA! 😃

Casdon

There was no choice but to invite him, there is no choice but to keep him on side. I hope the visit is kept as low key as it can be, and I’m glad parliament will still be in recess when he comes to reduce his grandstanding opportunities. I expect the Royal family to do an excellent number in diplomacy. My plea is just act responsibly, British media!

Well said!

GrannyGravy13

Sorry premature posting.

His visit coincides with Parliamentary recess, so he cannot address the house

He may have a different approach to politics to most of us this side of the pond, but, he is still an ally.

We are not at war with the USA.

And Diplomacy.

His visit coincides with Parliamentary recess, so he cannot address the house
That planning cannot have been a coincidence.

We're told by some on here that we're a small and insignificant little island off the coast of the EU, not powerful at all, but for some unknown reason Heads of State, including the POTUS, feel honoured to come and meet our Royal Family (who are apparently an irrelevance too, according to some).

Strange.

There was no choice but to invite him, there is no choice but to keep him on side. I hope the visit is kept as low key as it can be, and I’m glad parliament will still be in recess when he comes to reduce his grandstanding opportunities. I expect the Royal family to do an excellent number in diplomacy. My plea is just act responsibly, British media!

Kandinsky

*I would rather have Trump come here for a visit, than any of the ones who sneak in to do us harm and try to be permanent, there are plenty of those arriving on a daily basis*

Well exactly.
The type of people signing these ridiculous petitions are the same people welcoming any violent thug who enters our shores illegally.

Well, I didn't actually ask the probably Pakistani man who delivered my package today when he came over as to when he arrived or his family:

But we had an easy going conversation about me being able to have the time to take it easy (I was in a long housecoat)... as it was raining and not much fun.....I said it was nice sometimes being older....as long as health OK, I did yoga.....he mentioned his wife had done it before the kids... his Aunties felt the same too ...

the moral of this tale being, if you want or choose to see a violent thug........then you will

it you choose otherwise, you will find life is full or rewarding multi cultural connections, which far outweigh the opposite and I doubt very much I am the only one who has similar experiences?

And my goodness, I'd welcome the many like this man (who clearly, btw, didn't insist on burkas et al)

Above the narcissist (I mean, equating oneself with Jesus!)
and dictatorial Donald Trump.

Of course we have to "play nice" but ""one may smile and smile, and be a villain" 🤫

Maremia, I agree with you about the excellent timing. I'm sure that the King et al will do the correct diplomatic thing- they are very good at this.
I dislike Mr Trump and am opposed to more or less everything that he has done since he has been in power, including allowing untrained and unmoderated " thugs" ( aka ICE personnel) rounding up people for incarceration and removal with no requirements for any evidence of illegality or wrongdoing.
It seems that my dislike of this practise means that I must ," welcome violent thugs who enter the country illegally" accordingly. I can't see the connection, myself.

Iam64

Kandinsky I did respond to the OP. My view is we welcome t Mr T as the Potus. Diplomacy necessary and polite disagreements possible
🌞

👍

I would rather have Trump here, as elected President of the United States than the toady Mandelson, 'let's be honest' (really !!!) pushed into his position as one of the many 'friends' of Starmer.

Kandinsky...your last comment is spot on 😂I laughed myself, about the one you replied to..Setting up a petition to stop a visit by the POTUS is ridiculous. I hope the Mayor doesn't allow that stupid blimp to be flown again either it was so childish. Like it or not Trump was elected.

Kandinsky I did respond to the OP. My view is we welcome t Mr T as the Potus. Diplomacy necessary and polite disagreements possible
🌞

Of course he should be made welcome. His mother was Scottish I thought - so he is probably entitled to a British passport if he wanted one.

I think he should receive the same courteous visit that Macron received, whether he’s liked, or not.
I mean KS was all over him like a rash handing out the state visit invitation.

In Mandelson's quote from Terribull's post, he says 'he has a very quick and easy way of grasping',
or as Trump put it himself,
'grab 'em by ....'
He is beyond disgusting.
But the King and Queen will do a good job on our behalf.

Seriously? What a negative way to dismiss people who don’t share your world view. Good job you don’t have to be diplomatic with people you judge as having the wrong view

Well, you could equally address this comment to whoever started this thread 😂

Kandinsky

*I would rather have Trump come here for a visit, than any of the ones who sneak in to do us harm and try to be permanent, there are plenty of those arriving on a daily basis*

Well exactly.
The type of people signing these ridiculous petitions are the same people welcoming any violent thug who enters our shores illegally.

Seriously? What a negative way to dismiss people who don’t share your world view. Good job you don’t have to be diplomatic with people you judge as having the wrong view

Diplomacy often means talking with people one doesn't like or agree with. Mr Trump is important and it is right to use all aspects of diplomacy in addressing him.

I do honestly think the hugs towards Zelensky are entirely different it's symbolic if you like, an outward show of support for him and his country. I find it nauseating and unnecessary between two heads of state in ordinary circumstances. I can't imagine de Gaulle wanting to being mauled around by whoever his British counterpart would have been, even if they'd dropped the stiff upper lip for such a visit. I imagine they'd have got a gallic "non! pas de bisous s'il vous plait" we knew where we stood, none of this duplicitous touchy feely nonsense. Just reminds me of The Godfather and the Mafia "I'll kiss you, then I'll kill you" exaggerating maybe, but lets face it France and Britain are not always at one both have their own vested interests that can be at odds. Imo there was more than a kernal of truth in Macron's assertion of making Britain too an attractive destination.

Trump paid a state visit before when he was POTUS first time round and he was received by the Queen. According to Craig Brown's book, the Queen found him difficult and unpredictable and found his visit as uncomfortable as the visits from Idi Amin and Robert Mugabe.

There is no question of getting up a petition to prevent the visit and for it to be accepted. This would be unconstitutional. Like the Queen, King Charles has to remain publicly neutral.

There is nothing to stop people publicly protesting about his policies as long as the protests are peaceful.

It's called diplomacy. It's called defending this country's interests. It's called playing the long game. It's called statesmanship.

It will stick in everyone's craw of course - that is a given. But we cannot make an enemy of him.

Hopefully at some point nature will take its course and we will all be rid off him.

I would rather have Trump come here for a visit, than any of the ones who sneak in to do us harm and try to be permanent, there are plenty of those arriving on a daily basis

Well exactly.
The type of people signing these ridiculous petitions are the same people welcoming any violent thug who enters our shores illegally.

Terribull, I feel uncomfortable with social hugging. Its .one of the reasons I don't attend church services. I suppose there is a history and anthropology of social hugging

That would be relevant if we were visiting the USA, not the other way around.