Pressure is mounting on the UK Prime Minister Theresa May to withdraw an invitation to the US President for a state visit to Britain next year following a diplomatic spat between the transatlantic allies over his Twitter activity and remark meant for the British PM.
In an interview, Adam Garrie, managing editor of The Duran, told Sputnik he believes Mr. Trump was not thinking about the UK when he made his tweets.
"If anything he was trying to distract from the total failure of his bullying campaign against the DPRK and distract the US public with a combination of tweets about domestic celebrity scandals and anti-Muslim videos which have always resonated among some of his key supporters," he told Sputnik.
"As for the UK reaction, there's little a failing Prime Minister can say other than the visit will go ahead as scheduled. However, it was delayed before and it may well be delayed again based on a number of factors. Apart for checking up on his golf course in Scotland, there is really little for Trump to do in the UK. He knows it, the UK government must know it too."
Domestic Opposition
Although no official date has yet been set, both Downing Street and the White House insist the state visit will take place but is still at the planning stage.
With the British premier presently on a tour of the Middle East, a Downing Street spokesman made it clear Trump's invitation still stood, although Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said on November 29: "The UK has a proud history as an open, tolerant society & hate speech has no place here."
Leading the calls to halt the visit, Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, accused the president of promoting "a vile, extremist group" and he insisted an official visit to Britain "would not be welcomed."
President Trump has used Twitter to promote a vile, extremist group that exists solely to sow division and hatred in our country. It's increasingly clear that any official visit from President Trump to Britain would not be welcomed. pic.twitter.com/oZ1Kt0JCfY
— Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) November 30, 2017
In a surprising move, one of Mrs. May's own cabinet members took to social media to air his views over the controversy after Mr.Trump shared videos posted by Jayda Fransen, the deputy leader of Britain First, a group founded by former members of the far-right British National Party, to his 40 million Twitter followers.
Sajid Javid, the local government minister, who is a Muslim, voiced his disappointment, insisting the matter was far from over.
So POTUS has endorsed the views of a vile, hate-filled racist organisation that hates me and people like me. He is wrong and I refuse to let it go and say nothing
— Sajid Javid (@sajidjavid) November 29, 2017
Delete His Account
The diplomatic feud between Britain and the United States was raised in the House of Commons on Thursday, November 30, with two Conservative MPs offering a solution to the problem — either the president should delete his account, or Twitter should suspend it.
During an urgent question to Home Secretary Amber Rudd, Tory MP Peter Bone said Britain should use its influence with the US to convince Mr.Trump to close his account.
"One of the advantages of having such a special relationship with the United States is when a friend tells you you've done something dreadfully wrong, you tend to listen. Wouldn't the world be a better place if the prime minister could persuade the President of the United States to delete his Twitter account?" he asked.
brilliant — @PeterBoneUK says UK gov should, as a friend, tell @realDonaldTrump to delete his twitter account!
— Rachel Logan (@rachelrlogan) November 30, 2017
Ms. Rudd appeared to agree, replying: "My honorable friend makes an important point, it is true. We all listen more carefully, perhaps, to criticism from our friends than from people who we don't have a relationship with…it's interesting to note my honorable friend's advice regarding Twitter accounts, I'm sure many of us might share his view."
Responding to calls to cancel the visit, the minister said: "I can only repeat what I have said before, that the invitation has been extended and accepted and we have yet to make the arrangements. She added that "no dates have not yet been agreed".
Her comments were widely criticized on social media with many accusing the British government of simply becoming a lap-dog for America. A nationwide petition has also been started to call off the state visit.
Amber Rudd is wrong to argue our relationship with America means we shouldn't withdraw our invite to Trump. The US is far more than its President, and it is not a slur on Americans to call him out. pic.twitter.com/BvbEQ5v8oF
— Chuka Umunna (@ChukaUmunna) November 30, 2017
We’re backing this call to rescind invitation to @realDonaldTrump for official visit to UK. He also needs to apologise. https://t.co/XmVw3OEdd2
— Vince Cable (@vincecable) November 29, 2017
Amber Rudd has basically told the UK that we are weak and no matter what Trump says or does, we have to prioritise our relationship with the US ahead of our morals. He'll be laughing at us now as he can get away with anything.
— Marina Afzal (@Marina_AK) November 30, 2017
So, Amber Rudd, the free world being led by a white supremacist isn't "big picture"? Really?
— Aunt Olive (@HelpfulOlive) November 30, 2017
If Amber Rudd's words are anything to go by, "Taking back control" was merely a euphemism for bending over to Trump and handing our country to him.
— Johnny McVey 💿 (@mrjohnnymac18) November 30, 2017
How did we end up being ruled by people like Theresa May & Amber Rudd…
— Alfred Albion™ 🏴 (@AlfredAlbion) November 30, 2017
