President Trump Enters UK Amid Chaos

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrived in the UK for President Trump’s historic second state visit, where they met King Charles and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle with royal fanfare amid protests in London and across England.

As reported by Fox News:

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump received a full royal welcome from King Charles III following their arrival to Windsor Castle on Tuesday night.

Wednesday’s festivities kicked off with Trump, the first lady and several top U.S. officials participating in a carriage procession with the king, queen and other members of the royal family. Ahead of the couple’s arrival, hundreds of staff worked through the halls and grounds of the nearly 1,000-year-old castle to ensure the monarch welcomed the couple in true royal fashion.

Trump rode in the foremost carriage along with King Charles, while Melania was in a following carriage with the queen. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles and special envoy Steve Witkoff also rode in follow-up carriages.

Ahead of his visit, Trump hailed the “great honor” of being hosted by his “friend” at “the ultimate” Windsor Castle for his second state visit, the U.K.’s Standard reported.

Despite reports of anti-Trump protests across London, the President expressed great affinity for the UK, saying: “I have a lot of things here that warm my heart. . . . I want to tell you. It’s a very special place.”

And maybe it makes sense that Trump would feel a sense of welcome, given a recent groundswell of patriotism in the UK, with massive gatherings like “Unite the Kingdom” that some have described as MAGA rallies for the UK. Hundreds of thousands – maybe even millions – have taken to the streets waving British flags. The demonstrations reflected deep frustration in a nation grappling with free speech battles, immigration concerns, and government leadership that is failing to adequately address these concerns.

During his visit, President Trump met with King Charles and Prince William and other members of the Royal Family, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, all amidst a healthy dose of pomp and circumstance, through formalities such as military bands and royal carriages. But behind the ceremonial red carpet lies a very real question: What direction is the UK heading, and what does that mean for America?

Some have pointed out that it’s unusual for a U.S. President to make two official state visits to the same country. Trump first visited in 2019, when he met with the venerable Queen Elizabeth. This time, he returned to meet with her son, King Charles.

Trade and technology partnerships are on the table, as well as tough conversations about policy differences that have grown sharper in recent years. The UK is going through what some might call a “gut-check moment.” Its parliamentary system churns out rapid changes in leadership, leaving ordinary citizens feeling politically whiplashed. And while Americans often think of Britain as “that small country across the pond,” its choices – Brexit being the prime example – have historically foreshadowed waves of populist sentiment worldwide.

One striking theme is how similar the unrest in Britain feels to the populist wave that swept Trump into office. From debates over immigration to free speech restrictions, the same cultural battles rage across Western nations. In the UK, the current government faces pressure from both the progressive Left and the conservative Right, fueling a volatile political environment.

For Trump, the timing of his visit couldn’t be more symbolic. On the surface, the royal carriages and military bands showcase stability. But beneath the surface, Britain appears to be in turmoil, reckoning with its own political violence and a divided culture. In the end, this visit isn’t just about trade deals or high tea. It’s about whether the values of free speech, sovereignty, and national identity can endure in an age of unrest.

Today’s Sekulow broadcast included more discussion of Trump’s second visit to the UK, why he is there, and what we hope is the result. We were also joined by my brother, ACLJ Executive Director Jordan Sekulow, with an update on some major meetings he recently attended in Washington, D.C. And ACLJ Senior Counsel for Global Affairs Mike Pompeo joined the broadcast to discuss why we must resist the recent spate of political violence.

Watch the full broadcast below: