A gigantic balloon, branded “Trump baby”, which depicts Donald Trump as an angry Tango-coloured baby has been given the green light to fly near parliament during the US president’s controversial visit to the UK next week.
Permission has been granted for the 20ft (6m) high inflatable to rise above Parliament Square Gardens for two hours on the morning of Friday 13 July to protesters by the Greater London Authority.
Mr Trump is expected to arrive in the capital the evening before the planned stunt and is likely to visit Blenheim Palace, meet the Queen at Windsor, hold talks with prime minister Theresa May at Chequers and travel to his golf courses in Scotland during the trip.
London mayor Sadiq Khan and the American leader have engaged in a long-running war of words over issues like crime and terrorism.
Activist Leo Murray said: “We didn’t get off to the best start with the mayor’s office over this, who originally told us that they didn’t recognise Trump baby as legitimate protest.
“But, following a huge groundswell of public support for our plan, it looks like City Hall has rediscovered its sense of humour. Trump baby will fly.”
Fellow activist Nona Hurkmans said: “We are just a small group of friends who set out to use humour to take a stand against the rise of racist and fascist politics both here in the UK and over in the US.
“We have been genuinely overwhelmed and touched by the incredible levels of support we have received for our project.”
More than 10,000 people signed a petition calling for the inflatable – which depicts the world leader in a nappy – to be given permission to fly, activists said.
Mr Khan has described the balloon as a symbol of “peaceful protest”.
Activists are also hoping to take “Trump baby” on a world tour after the president’s visit.
Additional reporting by Press Association
