In a surprising turn of events, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s carefully planned push to showcase Britain’s global role was eclipsed by the arrival of Donald Trump in London.
Fox News, along with several major broadcasters, shifted its coverage from Starmer’s agenda to live scenes of Trump’s grand ceremonial welcome. The American President was greeted with one of the most spectacular Guards of Honour ever staged in the UK, featuring the Grenadier Guards, the Coldstream Guards, and the Scots Guards.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams described the welcome as “the most spectacular in our history,” highlighting its symbolic power in strengthening ties between London and Washington.
For Starmer, the timing couldn’t have been worse. He had hoped this week would allow him to project a confident new vision for Britain on the world stage. Instead, global media attention focused squarely on Trump’s arrival, his meeting with King Charles, and the pomp of the state visit.
This overshadowing was particularly awkward given the backdrop of domestic challenges and the ongoing media focus on scandals Starmer has been keen to move beyond.
Interestingly, the origins of Trump’s state visit trace back to February, when Starmer personally delivered King Charles III’s official invitation at the White House. Trump, visibly delighted, praised the letter and the King’s signature as “beautiful” and spoke warmly of Charles as “a great gentleman.”
What was meant to be Starmer’s moment has now been reframed as Trump’s leaving the Prime Minister once again struggling to escape the shadow of larger global personalities.
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