Armed with banners and chanting slogans, thousands of protesters gathered in central London on Wednesday to oppose former US President Donald Trump’s controversial second state visit to the United Kingdom.
According to London’s Metropolitan Police, approximately 5,000 people took part in the demonstration, which culminated in a rally outside the Houses of Parliament.
As Trump received royal treatment during a ceremonial welcome at Windsor Castle — located about 22 miles (35 km) west of London — demonstrators marched through the capital’s heart to voice their anger on the first full day of his visit.
“We’re protesting, I suppose, about everything to do with Donald Trump. There are so many things to dislike, it’s hard to choose a placard,” said Dave Lockett, a 67-year-old retired teacher.
“He’s sowing destruction and disorder across the globe. If Trump’s ideas take hold here, we’re talking about fascism in Britain,” he added.
‘Not in our name’
The protest attracted a diverse range of speakers, including left-wing lawmakers and activists. Newly appointed Green Party leader Zack Polanski addressed the crowd in Parliament Square, at a rally hosted by comedian and political commentator Nish Kumar.
“We are gathered here united to say: this is not in our name,” Polanski declared, referring to the Labour government’s decision to host Trump. “This is the moment to challenge everything Donald Trump stands for — to reject the politics of hate and division.”
Protesters began assembling near the BBC headquarters in the early afternoon, brandishing signs and flags supporting various causes — from Palestinian rights to anti-fascism. Amid the beat of drums, smaller replicas of the infamous “Trump Baby” blimp made a reappearance, mocking the former president as they had during his 2019 state visit.
Among the demonstrators was 32-year-old doctor Yashi Sriram, originally from India, holding a sign that read: “End the genocide. Stop Trump.”
“I just wanted to show support for the people of Palestine more than anything else,” she said.
‘Hiding in Windsor’
The protest was organised by the Stop Trump Coalition, with support from groups including Amnesty International UK, Black Lives Matter UK, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, and Greenpeace.
In a statement released before the march, the coalition questioned why Trump’s itinerary largely avoided London.
“He knows we’re protesting,” the group said. “Instead, he’ll be hiding and having a sad little carriage ride by himself in Windsor — with a parade no one will even see. That’s the power of our protest.”
At the evening rally, the crowd repeatedly chanted: “Say it loud, say it clear: Donald Trump not welcome here!” as speakers condemned his policies and legacy.
Unpopular and unwelcome
Security was tight, with more than 1,600 police officers deployed, including 500 from other jurisdictions. Despite the heavy presence, the protest remained peaceful, with no reported arrests. A planned counter-demonstration failed to materialize.
Only a single pro-Trump protester was seen, standing silently with a sign that read “We Love Trump”, as he was surrounded by police and jeered by the passing crowd.
Trump remains deeply unpopular in the UK. A new YouGov/Sky News poll released Wednesday showed that nearly half of Britons opposed the decision to invite him for another state visit, while just 25% believed it would improve UK–US relations.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan — a frequent critic of Trump — has long opposed his visits. Writing in The Guardian on Tuesday, Khan accused the former president of “scapegoating minorities, illegally deporting US citizens, and deploying the military on the streets of diverse American cities.”
“These actions aren’t just inconsistent with Western values,” Khan wrote, “they’re straight out of the autocrat’s playbook.”
Khan, who became the first Muslim mayor of a major Western capital in 2016, had previously authorised the Trump Baby blimp during Trump’s first visit — a symbol of widespread public resistance to his presence.
The protest came days after a far-right rally in London, led by controversial activist Tommy Robinson, drew an estimated 150,000 attendees. Clashes at the edges of that event resulted in injuries to 26 police officers.
Against that backdrop, Wednesday’s anti-Trump protest served as a sharp counterpoint, underscoring the polarised nature of political discourse in both the UK and the US.
AFP
