Buckingham Palace Extends Historic State Visit Invitation to Donald Trump Amidst Political Controversy
In a move that has sparked significant debate, king Charles III has extended an invitation to former U.S. President Donald Trump for a state visit to the White House in February. This potential second state visit,described by the U.K. Prime Minister as “truly historic” and “unprecedented,” deviates from the typical protocol where second-term presidents are usually hosted for less formal engagements like lunch or tea with the monarch.
The invitation comes at a time of considerable political scrutiny for Trump. Within the governing Labor Party, there have been calls to deny him the prospect to address Parliament. Labour MP Kate Osborne formally requested that House of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle prevent Trump from speaking to lawmakers. Osborne, in a parliamentary motion, argued that it would be “inappropriate for President Trump to address Parliament” due to his past conduct concerning “misogynism, racism and xenophobia.” This motion has garnered the support of 20 lawmakers.
This stance contrasts sharply with the reception afforded to French President Emmanuel Macron, who addressed British parliamentarians during his own state visit to the U.K. recently. The office of the House of Commons Speaker has stated that “Any request made to address the houses of parliament will be considered in the usual way.”