Donald Trump is not worried about the prospect of mass protests when he comes to the UK, the US ambassador to London has said.
Woody Johnson said the president was “more than capable” of dealing with any “discord” he may face when he finally visits later this year.
“I will assure you of one thing that I’m very clear on. This president is not worried about protests. In the US, here, anywhere,” he said in an interview with ITV News.
“He is very, very certain of where he wants to take the country and he’s more than happy to deal with the different views and express his own view.
“I think the president is more than capable of handling any sort of discord.”
Mr Trump confirmed his intention to make his first visit to Britain as president when he met Theresa May last month at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
The president had previously caused consternation in Whitehall when he announced on Twitter he would not be attending the opening of the new US embassy in London, saying it was a “bad deal” and he did not like the location of the new building.
It led to speculation he was unhappy after being rebuked by Mrs May for retweeting videos posted by the far-right Britain First group and feared that his visit would be met with mass demonstrations.
However, following his talks with Mrs May in Davos, Mr Trump reaffirmed his commitment to the “special relationship” with Britain.
Mr Johnson said: “I think the president values this special relationship that he has with this country.
“His mother is Scottish. He feels an affinity, he knows the importance that the British people play in our shared security and our shared prosperity.
“He knows this relationship is very important, he knows we can’t have a free world without these alliances and this relationship is the strongest and oldest and most important that we have.”
Press Association
