The British government has a Donald Trump problem. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has embarked on a shameless but successful crusade to lovebomb Trump to avoid tariffs that’d cripple the economy. And, though the brownnosing was humiliating, it worked!
Trump recently said he “really likes the PM a lot, even though he’s a liberal” and praised him for doing a “good trade deal with us, which a lot of countries haven’t been able to do.”. The fruits of that are that the U.K. has a relatively low 10% tariff, as compared to the European Union’s 30%.
To sweeten the deal, Starmer also invited Trump on a state visit to the United Kingdom in Sept. 2025, where he’d get the full royal treatment at Buckingham Palace. I mean, as far as diplomacy goes, it seems British politicians know flattery is the way to Trump’s heart.
There’s only one teeny problem. Brits hate Trump. As per the latest opinion polls, 84% of British people have a negative opinion of Trump, and bear in mind that people in England, Scotland, and Wales are far from liberal lefties. As such, the news that millions of pounds will be spent on Trump treating the country like his personal theme park has gone down about as well as taking a leak on the Queen’s grave.
The return of the balloon!
A petition demanding the visit be canceled is already at 216,000 (and rising) signatories, saying they want to show “Trump, The King and the PM how unwelcome the US president truly is.” To that effect the “Stop Trump Coalition” has been formed whose aim is to make this anger loud and inescapable.
There will be a mass demonstration in London on Sept. 17, with hopes for hundreds of thousands of angry Brits to march to an unknown location (likely Downing Street or the American Embassy) to show him he’s not welcome, followed by more at Windsor Castle, where he’ll be enjoying a lavish state banquet alongside King Charles.
The last time Trump visited the U.K. in 2018, he was infuriated by the omnipresent sight of a large inflatable “Baby Trump” balloon flown by protestors. He described the sight of it as making him “uncomfortable” and that .”I guess when they put out blimps to make me feel unwelcome, no reason for me to go to London,” adding, “I used to love London as a city. I haven’t been there in a long time. But when they make you feel unwelcome, why would I stay there?”
Said balloon is now in the possession of the Museum of London, though it might be time to bring it out of retirement for one last mission.
