On GB News, journalist Sara Firth shared insights into the challenges surrounding President Donald Trump’s upcoming state visit to the UK, highlighting both the pageantry of the trip and the controversies that may overshadow it.
When asked by hosts Eamonn Holmes and Ellie Costello whether the visit holds any real meaning for Trump, Firth explained that the former President is known to enjoy the pomp and ceremony associated with the British Royal Family. She noted that when Keir Starmer visited Washington earlier this year and presented Trump with the offer of a second state visit from King Charles, it was seen as a smart diplomatic move.
According to Firth, Trump’s itinerary is expected to include flypasts, carriage rides, a Windsor Castle tour, greetings from the Prince and Princess of Wales, and a lavish state banquet. The ceremonial welcome, she suggested, is intended to set the stage for more difficult talks with Prime Minister Starmer, particularly over trade tariffs.
However, Firth warned that the visit comes at a sensitive time. The fallout from the Epstein–Mandelson scandal has put Starmer under pressure after Lord Mandelson was sacked when leaked emails revealed supportive messages he sent to Jeffrey Epstein following the latter’s guilty plea in a sex offences case.
Adding to the awkwardness, the White House recently dismissed the authenticity of a supposed letter linking Trump to Epstein, stressing that the President “did not draw it, and he did not sign it.” The alleged note, which included a drawing of a woman’s figure, was said to be part of a “birthday book” given to Epstein back in 2003.
Firth concluded that both leaders face scrutiny: Starmer for his handling of the scandal, and Trump for any perceived connections he wants to distance himself from. “There’s certainly going to be a few awkward questions asked,” she said, adding that the spectacle of the royal reception might serve as a welcome distraction for Trump after what has been, in her words, “a very rocky week.”
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