Thousands flood London streets to protest Trump’s visit

Protesters from diverse nationalities and social groups carried placards and chanted slogans against Trump, denouncing him as a racist leader, divider, and authoritarian autocrat, insisting that he has no place in Britain.

The rally began outside the BBC headquarters before thousands of demonstrators marched toward Parliament Square. Along the route, anti-war groups holding Palestinian flags also protested Washington’s unconditional support for the Israeli regime. Chants condemning military assaults on Gaza and calling for an end to the war echoed among the crowds.

Meanwhile, heavy security measures were put in place across the capital. The Metropolitan Police had earlier announced that more than 1,600 officers were deployed to manage the demonstrations and prevent public disorder.

According to published polls, Trump enjoys support from only about 16 percent of British citizens, with the majority opposing his views. London Mayor Sadiq Khan, in an opinion piece in The Guardian, strongly criticized the U.S. president’s policies, accusing him of undermining democracy by promoting “politics of fear and hatred.” He stressed: “We will not allow those who seek to divide us with hate to succeed. We see strength in our diversity, and we proudly uphold our values.”

Trump arrived in London Tuesday night for his second state visit. On Wednesday, he met with King Charles III at Windsor Castle and is scheduled to hold talks with Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday. Trump’s first state visit to the U.K. in June 2019 was also met with massive protests in London and other cities.