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UK blames protests as Trump cancels London trip
LONDON, Jan 13, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – The British government blamed the threat
of mass protests for President Donald Trump’s decision Friday to cancel a
visit to London to open the new US embassy, and warned that criticism of the
White House risked harming US-UK relations.
Trump said he was abandoning next month’s trip because he did not like the
location and cost of the new embassy building.
But Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson suggested the decision was prompted by
the opposition to Trump in Britain, and warned such critics “seem determined
to put this crucial relationship at risk”.
Prime Minister Theresa May offered Trump a state visit to Britain one year
ago, when she became the first foreign leader to visit the White House after
his inauguration.
But the date has yet to be set in the face of deep hostility to the
president in Britain, prompting speculation it could be turned into a lower
profile trip focused around the opening of the new embassy.
Trump tweeted overnight that he would not attend the ceremony, initially
scheduled for next month.
“I am not a big fan of the Obama administration having sold perhaps the
best located and finest embassy in London for ‘peanuts’, only to build a new
one in an off location for 1.2 billion dollars,” he wrote.
“Bad deal. Wanted me to cut ribbon – NO!”
The embassy move is in fact the result of a decade-long project initiated
by the administration of former Republican president George W. Bush.
– ‘Finally got that message’ –
His decision not to come was welcomed by critics outraged by the US travel
ban on Muslim-majority countries, and more recently, Trump’s decision to re-
tweet anti-Muslim videos posted by a British far-right organisation.
“Many Londoners have made it clear that Donald Trump is not welcome here
while he is pursuing such a divisive agenda. It seems he’s finally got that
message,” tweeted Mayor of London Sadiq Khan.
The mayor, a member of the main opposition Labour party, said there would
have been “mass peaceful protests”, and that it had been a “mistake” to
invite him.
There is likely some relief in the British government at Trump’s decision,
which would have caused at the very least a major policing operation.
But Johnson accused Khan and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn of damaging US-UK
relations with their vocal criticism.
“The US is the biggest single investor in the UK — yet Khan & Corbyn seem
determined to put this crucial relationship at risk,” he tweeted.
“We will not allow US-UK relations to be endangered by some puffed up
pompous popinjay in City Hall.”
– Strained UK-US ties –
A spokesman for May’s Downing Street office said the invitation for the
state visit “has been extended and accepted. No date has been confirmed”.
“The US is one of our oldest and most valued allies and our strong and
deep partnership will endure,” he said.
Relations between May and Trump became strained in November after he re-
tweeted anti-Muslim videos posted by a British far-right group.
May condemned it, and Trump hit back that she should focus on terrorism in
Britain, which suffered five attacks last year.
In an article in London’s Evening Standard newspaper on Friday, US
ambassador Woody Johnson said Washington was “re-investing in the special
relationship”.
“Our new embassy reflects not just America’s special history with the UK
but the special future ahead of us as we advance the prosperity and security
of both our nations,” he wrote.
He conceded that the former building in upmarket Mayfair, central London,
was a “perfect location” but noted it was viewed as too vulnerable following
the September 11, 2001, attacks.
The new 12-storey, cube-shaped building, designed by American architects
KieranTimberlake, is located in a regenerated area on the south bank of the
River Thames. It will be open for business on January 16.
A US Embassy spokesperson rejected Trump’s criticism of the new building
on Friday, calling it “one of the most secure, hi-tech, and environmentally-
friendly embassies the United States has ever built”, adding that the Nine
Elms site “was the best overall location.”.
Leading Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage, who visited Trump following his
election, said it was “disappointing” the president could not visit when he
had been to so many other countries.
But Stephen Doughty, an opposition Labour lawmaker, tweeted: “We are not a
big fan of his racist, sexist, unthinking behaviour.”
In Trump’s absence, the Madame Tussauds museum installed the president’s
waxwork outside the new embassy, causing construction workers to crowd round
and pose for selfies.
BSS/AFP/MRI/0828 hrs