Donald Trump is set to land in the UK later today, but if you’re expecting a warm welcome, think again. Good Morning Britain correspondent Nick Dixon summed it up bluntly on air: “Protesters are ready.”
This will be Trump’s second state visit, and while Windsor Castle is rolling out the red carpet, the mood outside the palace gates is far from unanimous.
On the show, host Susanna Reid asked Dixon the obvious: “What kind of welcome can Donald Trump expect? Will people be thrilled to bits with his visit, or will there be protests?” Dixon didn’t sugarcoat it. He reportedly said the reception would be “mixed,” pointing out that while American flags now line Windsor Castle, there’s also an army of protesters gathering in anticipation.
'What kind of welcome will President Trump expect in Windsor?'
— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) September 16, 2025
President Donald Trump and his wife Melania arrive in the UK later ahead of their second State Visit. @NickDixonITV reports from Windsor. pic.twitter.com/ALh05DR2V1
“He will get the red carpet treatment from the Royals,” Dixon explained, adding that security around the event is “incredibly tight.” Police officers have been scouring drains and bins, and a seven-foot fence has gone up around the Castle. A marine unit is even patrolling the Thames to make sure nothing slips through the cracks.
While the official pomp is locked in, the public mood is a whole different story. “As for the locals here, and the tourists coming to the town, what kind of welcome will they give Donald Trump? Well, that’s a different matter entirely, to be honest,” Dixon said. “I think opinion is split dramatically. There are some very strong feelings based on the conversations I was having yesterday.”
And those strong feelings are already making themselves known. Dixon confirmed that the first protest is timed to Trump’s arrival this evening.
Social media has been just as divided. One Twitter user fumed: “He’s the President of the USA. If you don’t like him, stay at home. If you turn up protesting, or shout names at him, as the far left is very good at, you’ll give him more airtime, more relevance, and more power. You guys just don’t get how to rattle a narcissist, do you?”
He's the president of the USA .. if you dont like him stay at home , by turning up protesting , or shouting names at him as the far left are very good at , youbgive him more airtime , more relevance and more power .. you guys just dont get how to rattle a narcissist do u ?
— Steve Flaherty (@steveisaacs1968) September 16, 2025
Others weren’t convinced he should even be there. Another user asked, “If someone needs this amount of security in place to ensure their safety, should it not be considered if they are the right person to be visiting?”
Of course, not everyone is unhappy. Some supporters see Trump as a bigger deal in the UK than the press gives him credit for. “Love President Trump. He’s more popular in the UK than reported in MSM,” one fan tweeted.
If someone needs this amount of security in place to ensure their safety, should it not be considered if they are the right person to be visiting?
— Mark Jarvis (@MarkFlashcove) September 16, 2025
For the Royals, it’s business as usual: the flags are flying, the carpets are rolled out, and the motorcades are lined up. But for much of Britain, this visit looks like a showdown between ceremony and protest.
Whether Trump sees more cheers or boos when he steps onto UK soil will be clear soon enough. But one thing is certain: this state visit will be impossible to ignore.
