Thousands protested Trump’s UK state visit in London, while a smaller crowd in Windsor welcomed him amid pageantry and heavy police presence.

Trump’s UK state visit draws protests in London, support in Windsor

Thousands of people took to the streets of London on Wednesday to protest against US President Donald Trump’s second state visit to the UK. Meanwhile, a much smaller group of supporters gathered in Windsor to welcome the American leader during royal ceremonies.

A split in society

Trump became the first US president to be invited for a second state visit. He was greeted by a carriage procession, a military parade and a banquet at Windsor Castle. But a parallel “Trump Not Welcome” march took place in central London, organised by the Stop Trump coalition with the support of Amnesty International, Abortion Rights and pro-Palestinian activists.

Police said about 5,000 people took part in the demonstration, holding signs reading “Trump, a big step back on the evolution of man” and “Not Wanted Here, Not Wanted Anywhere.”

Context and Reaction

Some protesters were outspoken:

“I just don’t accept everything that Trump and his administration represent in the world,” said pensioner Brian Murray.

A YouGov poll found that 45% of Britons thought Trump’s invitation was the wrong move, while 30% supported the decision.

Four people were arrested after images of Trump and Jeffrey Epstein were projected onto the walls of Windsor Castle on Tuesday. The issue could resurface given Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s recent dismissal of the British ambassador to the United States over his links to Epstein.

Warm welcome in Windsor

In Windsor itself, only a few dozen supporters gathered to greet the president. Among them was former New York City police officer Stephen DeFranco:

“He’s doing a fantastic job. To me, Trump is a shining light,” he said.

The current number of protesters was similar to Trump’s second state visit in 2019, but significantly smaller than during his first official visit in 2018, when tens, if not hundreds, of thousands took to the streets.