"As Donald Trump met with a grinning Keir Starmer and senior royals on his UK state visit this week, I found myself needing a Daily Mail body language expert. Did Starmer's hand wave suggest he wanted to ask about the migrants currently being jailed surrounded by alligators in Florida? Did King Charles's lip shape mean he was wondering about the women who've accused Trump of sexual assault? Still, best not to think about it."
"That seemed to be the mantra of the visit. As protesters lined the street, the British delegation stuck its fingers in its ears and pulled out the stops: a gilded carriage, a military ceremony and the foreign secretary, Yvette Cooper, doing the sort of enthused head tilt that looked as if she was trying to communicate she was being held hostage."
Donald Trump's UK state visit featured warm receptions from political leaders and royals alongside visible public protests. The visit emphasized ceremonial pageantry—a gilded carriage and military ceremony—while avoiding substantive engagement with contentious issues. British officials appeared determined to project normalcy, timing events to sidestep large London protests and parliamentary scrutiny. The trip aligned with economic interests, reportedly connected to a £150bn US investment, and diplomatic considerations aimed at preserving trade advantages. Critics highlighted dissonance between pomp and pressing moral concerns, citing Gaza, harsh anti-migrant policies, and accusations against Trump as reasons the visit felt inappropriate and unsettling.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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