British politicians are mocking Trump – accusing him of cancelling his upcoming trip to London out of fear.
Controversy has raged in the wake of an anticipated visit by Trump to London.
Early Friday morning – roughly 6am local time in London – Trump tweeted that he was cancelling that trip.
“Reason I canceled my trip to London is that I am not a big fan of the Obama Administration having sold perhaps the best located and finest embassy in London for “peanuts,” only to build a new one in an off location for 1.2 billion dollars. Bad deal. Wanted me to cut ribbon-NO!” he tweeted.
Reason I canceled my trip to London is that I am not a big fan of the Obama Administration having sold perhaps the best located and finest embassy in London for “peanuts,” only to build a new one in an off location for 1.2 billion dollars. Bad deal. Wanted me to cut ribbon-NO!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2018
However, as The Guardian reported: “the embassy’s plan to move from Mayfair to Nine Elms in London was first reported in October 2008, when George W Bush was still president.”
The Guardian also provided some background on the strained relations between the U.K. and Trump, reporting that:
British relations with the president hit a low late last year when May criticised his decision to retweet videos posted by the far-right extremist group Britain First.
Trump responded by tweeting directly to the prime minister that she should focus on tackling domestic terrorism.
The government was so concerned about his decision to share the videos that Britain’s ambassador to Washington, Sir Kim Darroch, took the rare step of raising the issue directly with the White House.
The Washington Post also punched back at Trump, confirming that: “it was the George W. Bush administration that decided more than a decade ago to relocate the embassy during a worldwide push for greater security at U.S. diplomatic sites,” and reporting on some of the responses from notable British politicians.
For instance Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, was quick to call out Trump’s excuse.
“It appears that President Trump got the message from the many Londoners who love and admire America and Americans but find his policies and actions the polar opposite of our city’s values of inclusion, diversity and tolerance,” Khan tweeted, adding: “His visit next month would without doubt have been met by mass peaceful protests. This just reinforces what a mistake it was for Theresa May to rush and extend an invitation of a state visit in the first place.”
Many Londoners have made it clear that Donald Trump is not welcome here while he is pursuing such a divisive agenda. It seems he’s finally got that message. pic.twitter.com/YD0ZHuWtr3
— Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) January 12, 2018
David Lammy, a lawmaker for the opposition Labour party, weighed in as well, tweeting that: “What a load of ********! You finally got the message that you’d be met by millions of us out on the streets protesting.”
What a load of ********! You finally got the message that you’d be met by millions of us out on the streets protesting. https://t.co/L0Y4Q42bcT
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) January 12, 2018
Ed Miliband, the former leader of the Labour Party, also agreed with Lammy, tweeting that Trump had “got the message.”
Nope it’s because nobody wanted you to come. And you got the message. https://t.co/9xV7bFZQgL
— Ed Miliband (@Ed_Miliband) January 12, 2018
As The Washington Post reported, there is ample reason for Trump to be concerned about a visit to the U.K.
Shortly after Trump’s inauguration, around 100,000 demonstrators hit the streets of London for the Women’s March in solidarity with anti-Trump rallies worldwide.
A group called “Stop Trump” promised the “biggest demonstration in British history” should Trump visit. On a Facebook event page, more than 8,000 registered to attend a rally for an event that wasn’t even scheduled.
“Put the date into your diaries: If Donald Trump attempts to sneak into the UK to open the US Embassy on 26/27th February 2018 and also pop into see Theresa May at Downing Street — he will be met by a million of us attempting a citizens arrest of him for incitement to racial hatred,” the group said.
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