President Donald Trump has landed in the United Kingdom and apparently some hot water as well. Trump’s official visit has already turned into one of the more contentious state visits in recent memory with some UK politicians and many citizens deriding the president.
Trump would have had to simply look out the window of Air Force One to get an idea of how his trip would go: a giant penis was cut into the grass in a field near where Air Force One landed. Even before President Trump had officially landed, he was already swinging back against his critics, calling London’s mayor Sadiq Khan a “stone cold idiot” onboard Air Force One.
Khan has been one of the loudest anti-Trump voices in the United Kingdom. Khan, a Muslim born in London to Indian/Pakistani parents, compared Trump to 20th century fascists. Writing in The Guardian, Khan argued that “in years to come, I suspect this state visit will be one we look back on with profound regret and acknowledge that we were on the wrong side of history.”
Trump visits the United Kingdom as the nation faces its own internal turmoil. Brexit has become a complete disaster, with the UK Parliament repeatedly rejecting every Brexit approach brought to vote. Now, Prime Minister Theresa May is set to resign in coming days and it’s not clear who will take charge.
Trump will enjoy many of the trappings of a state visit, including lunch with the queen and tea with prince Charles. Still, Trump’s trip might ultimately be overshadowed by the intense and chaotic political climate.