‘Trump scared of British demonstrators, cancels state visit’

Donald Trump and British Theresa May, cartoon

From daily The Independent in Britain today:

Donald Trump cancels trip to Britain amid fears he won’t be welcome, say reports

Thursday 11 January 2018 23:23 GMT

Concerned about the welcome he would receive in the UK, the President will instead send Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Sky News and the Daily Mail reported.

The White House have yet to respond to The Independent’s request for comment while Downing Street declined to comment on the particular case, saying it had extended an invitation to Mr Trump when he entered office and it has been accepted. …

The decision is in contrast to comments made by the US Ambassador to the UK, Woody Johnson, at the end of last year that Mr Trump was planning to visit in the new year and comments by Prime Minister Theresa May last week that he “will be coming to this country”.

Mrs May controversially extended the offer of a state visit when she became the first world leader to meet Mr Trump in the White House following his inaugurationlast year.

Since then, however, the president has indicated he does not want to take up the invitation if he is going to face mass demonstrations.

The opposition to his visit meant the original plan for an official state visit, which would include a chance for Mr Trump to meet the Queen, was downgraded to a “working visit” which carries much less prestige.