UK

Donald Trump: Protests planned as visit to UK confirmed for July 13

President Donald Trump speaks at the White House during an event for the Wounded Warrior Project Soldier Ride. Picture by Evan Vucci, Associated Press
President Donald Trump speaks at the White House during an event for the Wounded Warrior Project Soldier Ride. Picture by Evan Vucci, Associated Press President Donald Trump speaks at the White House during an event for the Wounded Warrior Project Soldier Ride. Picture by Evan Vucci, Associated Press

US President Donald Trump has been warned to expect protests when he makes his long-awaited visit to the UK on Friday July 13.

The controversial trip will be a "working visit" rather than a full-blown state occasion.

The visit will provide Theresa May with an opportunity to highlight the importance of the "special relationship" between the UK and US - and push for the prize of a trade deal after Brexit.

But the outspoken and unpredictable president will face mass protests from critics of his policies and behaviour.

In a sign of the difficulties in dealing with the Trump White House, Number 10 had hoped to co-ordinate releasing details of the trip, but the president's press secretary Sarah Sanders slipped out the information first during a "take your child to work day" event.

The Prime Minister said: "I am looking forward to welcoming President Trump to the United Kingdom for a working visit on July 13."

Downing Street said further details of the visit will be set out "in due course". The president is not expected to travel to the north as part of the short visit.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said it was "fantastic news" that he was making the trip "at last" and it would be the "greatest visit ever".

London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who has clashed with the president over the response to a terror attack in the capital, said: "If he comes to London, President Trump will experience an open and diverse city that has always chosen unity over division and hope over fear".

Mr Trump cancelled a planned trip to London to open the new US embassy earlier this year, complaining the move south of the Thames had been a "bad deal".

But it is thought his decision may have been driven by a fear of protests.