No10 refuses to deny Donald Trump wants state visit delayed
2 min read
Downing Street has said plans for Donald Trump to visit the UK this year remain unchanged but refused to deny reports he has asked to delay the trip.
The US president called Theresa May to say he did not want to cross the pond if his presence in Britain could spark mass protests, according to the Guardian.
The Prime Minister extended the invitation for a state visit when she became the first foreign leader to meet the Mr Trump after he was inaugurated in January.
But it was met with a huge backlash from the public and MPs. Criticism of Mr Trump intensified last week after he insulted London Mayor Sadiq Khan in the aftermath of the terror attack in the capital.
An official government spokesperson refused to deny the report Mr Trump had asked to put his state visit plans on ice.
“We aren’t going to comment on speculation about the contents of private phone conversations,” the spokesperson said.
“The Queen extended an invitation to President Trump to visit the UK and there is no change to those plans.”
Meanwhile the White House said: “The President has tremendous respect for Prime Minister May. That subject never came up on the call.”
But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn welcomed the supposed decision to postpone the visit – and highlighted Mr Trump’s controversial decision to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement.
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