Trump visits a U.K. facing internal social, political turmoil with message of freedom, friendship

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump embarked on a historic state visit to the United Kingdom, his second such invitation from the British monarchy, following a 2019 trip hosted by Queen Elizabeth II. This rare honor, diverging from the usual informal tea for second-term U.S. presidents, was held at Windsor Castle to mark the approaching 250th anniversary of America’s founding, highlighting the enduring U.S.-UK alliance. 

The visit took place against a backdrop of UK domestic turmoil, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer facing political controversies and growing support for Nigel Farage, an ardent Trump supporter, alongside various protests in London. Harper's reported that although planned before his murder, thousands participating in the pro-British rallies held moments of silence honoring slain U.S. conservative leader Charlie Kirk. 

Political turmoil in the U.K.

Last Saturday, London saw a large-scale demonstration called "Unite the Kingdom," led by conservative activist Tommy Robinson, who was sentenced to 18 months in solitary confinement after he showed a documentary titled “Silenced” in Trafalgar Square. At the demonstration, political commentator Katie Hopkins referenced Robinson’s imprisonment, Kirk’s murder and her own censorship. “But it doesn’t matter,” she said. “They can put us in prison. They can shoot us. They can lock us up, but they will not stop us now.” 

"We are not here because we hate, Hopkins continued. "We are not here because we want bad things for other people. We are here because we grew up knowing freedoms, and we will get those freedoms back for our kids and our grandchildren.”

The United Kingdom has drawn significant scrutiny for its escalating crackdown on free expression, particularly through the enforcement of laws like the Communications Act 2003 and the Malicious Communications Act 1988, which target online content deemed offensive or even distressing. In 2023, police made more than 12,000 arrests—averaging 33 per day—for social media posts, a 121% surge since 2017, yet conviction rates have dropped, indicating a broader strategy to deter speech rather than secure prosecutions. 

Media outlets estimated 110,000 to 150,000 attendees who came to protest against mass immigration, suppression of speech, and what they deem as threats to British identity, including the inundation of Islam throughout the U.K. A smaller counter-demonstration of roughly 5,000 individuals took place, organized by the extreme-left group, Stand Up to Racism, which has been closely linked to socialist organizations. Organizers of the patriotic event claim authorities wildly underestimated the numbers of attendees, posting photographs that support their claim of close to a million citizens attending a rally last week.

Many, including Farage, have warned that this heavy-handed approach, coupled with the looming enforcement of the Online Safety Act in 2025, risks stifling open discourse. From a practical standpoint, the enforcement and any subsequent investigations risk overburdening law enforcement, which already struggles with a 90% unsolved rate for violent crimes.

In August 2024, amid unrest following a stabbing and murder of three young girls near Liverpool, Jordan Parlour was sentenced to 20 months in prison for a Facebook post railing against accommodating asylum seekers. Tyler Kay faced a similar penalty for online calls to deport migrants en masse, both charged under the Public Order Act.

The crackdown on speech has extended beyond the borders of cyberspace. The Public Order Act has been more and more frequently used against those allegedly promoting "racial hatred." One of the most high-profile cases is that of Adam Smith-Connor, a military veteran, who was fined in 2023 for silently praying near an abortion clinic in Bournemouth, violating a local "buffer zone" order that classified his quiet reflection as an illegal form of protest, highlighting how even non-verbal acts are now subject to strict expression control. 

Criminalizing the display of the Union Jack: Patriotism or Racism?

One of the issues Starmer has had to deal with is that local constabularies have taken to regularly removing Union Jack and St. George's flags (the flags of Great Britain and England, respectively) put up by citizens. 

Town officials in various cities have claimed that the flags were removed as a matter of regular maintenance. However, opponents of the "Raise the Colours" movement claim that the display of the national flags is a coded symbol of right-wing hatred for immigrants.

Also in attendance at the "Unite the Kingdom" event was Courtney Wright, the 13-year-old girl who was famously sent home from school early on “culture day” for wearing a Union Jack dress. “Britain is our home,” she said. “It’s a place built on courage, sacrifice and freedom. Millions before us fought to protect it, and it’s our duty to love it, respect it and keep it strong.”

Elon Musk also appeared at the rally via Zoom, saying “Our friend Charlie Kirk [was] murdered in cold blood this week,” Musk said. He then critiqued “people on the left celebrating it openly.”

The U.K.'s immigration issue and sexual predators

Opponents of the U.K.'s embrace of immigrants, mostly from Islamic countries, have charged that the U.K. has run headlong into "political correctness" by covering up crimes committed by the mostly Pakistani immigrants. Most notably, Starmer is facing a scandal in which he and his subordinates at the local and national level have suppressed reporting of gang rapes and forced prostitution.

According to the BBC, journalist Andrew Norfolk identified a "pattern" of Pakistani-heritage grooming gangs sexually exploiting white girls in the north of England and the Midlands in 2010, but "came up against a 'conspiracy of silence' when he tried to elicit responses from police forces and councils."

Called the "Rotherham Scandal," it was later learned that as many as 1,400 girls had become sexual-crime victims, but in a 2013 report by Parliament’s Home Affairs Committee it was said that "the fear of being seen as racist may have hindered the detection of and intervention in abuse." 

The Telegraph reported that in Rotherham, a senior police officer told a distressed father that the town “would erupt” if the routine abuse of white children by Pakistani heritage men became public knowledge. The father of a 15-year-old rape victim was reportedly told the assault might mean she would “learn her lesson.”

In August 2024, amid unrest following the stabbing and murder of three young girls near Liverpool, Jordan Parlour was sentenced to 20 months in prison for uploading a Facebook post railing against accommodating asylum seekers. Tyler Kay faced a similar penalty for online calls to deport migrants en masse, both charged under the Public Order Act.

Trump's visit in geopolitical terms

Trump's state visit also includes a ceremonial greeting by King Charles III and Queen Camilla, a tribute at Queen Elizabeth II’s tomb, military displays, and a continuation of talks on economic partnerships, including nuclear energy initiatives.

A continuing priority for Trump, which will likely be a significant effort during his trip, is that of trade relations between the two allies. The bilateral discussions are scheduled for Thursday at Starmer's official country residence, Chequers. These talks are essential to advance ongoing negotiations on trade refinements—such as potential reductions in the 10% baseline tariff on UK goods and expansions to the May 8 Economic Prosperity Deal—along with geopolitical issues like the Ukraine conflict and Gaza.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative reported earlier this year that "U.S. total goods trade (exports plus imports) with the United Kingdom was an estimated $147.7 billion in 2024. U.S. goods exported to the United Kingdom in 2024 were $79.5 billion, up 6.0 percent ($4.5 billion) from 2023. U.S. goods imported from the United Kingdom in 2024 totaled $68.2 billion, up 6.2 percent ($4.0 billion) from 2023. The U.S. goods trade surplus with the United Kingdom was $11.4 billion in 2024, a 4.7 percent increase ($512.7 million) over 2023."

U.S. tariffs regarding the U.K. are still a moving target. The BBC reported Wednesday morning that a proposed deal to eliminate tariffs on UK steel exports to the U.S. has been put on hold indefinitely. Tariffs of 25% are currently applied to steel exports to the U.S., which make up 6% of all UK steel exports by volume and 9% by value. Other nations face tariffs of 50%. Thus, U.K. senior government sources insisted to the BBC that the UK is in a competitive position relative to others. 

But hopes remain for a better deal, after President Donald Trump hinted at tariff relief for British steel on his second state visit to the UK.