Donald Trump arrives at Stansted Airport near London, UK, September 16, 2025 (The Independent)

The Pomp, Pageantry, and Pitfalls of Donald Trump’s UK Visit

EA-Times Radio VideoCast: Trump Can’t Bury Epstein Files

UPDATE 0654 GMT:

I joined Times Radio late Thursday to put Donald Trump’s visit to Britain within the context of the question by host Henry Bonsu, “Do the US and UK have a special relationship?”

Listen to Discussion from 1:37.28

What you have now is not even an alliance. It’s a transactional relationship. If Donald Trump feels good, if he feels flattered, if he feels he is the man of the hour, if he feels like a “king”, he’s happy and the relationship is good.

The other guest is Sarah Baxter, the Director of the Marie Colvin Center for International Reporting.

UPDATE, SEPT 19:

I joined BBC Radio 2’s Jeremy Vine Show on Thursday for further analysis of the UK’s successful manipulation of Donald Trump on his visit — and why that success may be only temporary.

To listen, you need to be in the UK or use a VPN.

Listen to Discussion from 10:24

I discuss London’s exploitation of the “special relationship” — “a myth, but an important myth” — but note how the Starmer Government still faces the challenges of Trump’s tariffs, his chaotic approach to European security, and the Trump camp’s promotion of the hard-right Reform Party.

This was a convicted felon. This was someone found guilty of defamation over sexual assault. This is a man found guilty of fraud.

But he happens to be the President of the United States. So you have to play the cards you’ve been dealt.

You don’t just have a one-off extravaganza. You have to flatter Trump on Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, and on and on.

The other guest is Reem Ibrahim of the Institute of Economic Affairs.

UPDATE 0709 GMT:

In a 12-minute analysis, I chatted with Poland’s TVP World about the issues of European and Ukrainian security raised by Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK.

I begin with discussion of the Starmer Government trying to get Trump’s support for Kyiv despite the reality TV star “spinning like a weathervane”. Will London be able to work with Washington’s “adults in the room” to maneuver Trump, given that he is avoiding a commitment to toughened sanctions on the Kremlin?

The situation is brighter than in February when the Trump Administration, including Vice President J.D. Vance, threatened a bailout on security and a direct US-Russia deal handing part of Ukraine to Moscow. However, the position is still uncertain.

Previous US Administrations followed the rules of the game for an alliance.

Donald Trump does not believe in an alliance. He believes in what he can get out of this.

The secret is not to treat him as an ally but to manipulate and play him, to keep your alliance going with US agencies.

The challenge? “You have to flatter him. And then you have to do it the next day. And the next week. And every week until he is no longer President.”

I also discuss European Union negotiations with others beyond Trump, notably the prospect of a trade deal with India.

UPDATE, SEPT 18:

As Trump’s visit began on Wednesday, I spoke with Gaurie Dwivedi on India’s NDTV about the likely issues and whether the Jeffrey Epstein scandal will take over.

Let me give you a different headline: Convicted felon/sex abuser/fraudster visits UK.

But he also happens to be the President of the US. So is the focus on his checkered past and Epstein or is it, as the UK Government wants, on technology and nuclear energy deals?

So, despite Trump’s tariffs and threats to security, all is well.

ORIGINAL ENTRY, SEPT 17: I joined Azerbaijan’s ANewz on Tuesday to discuss Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK.

Trump has been convicted on 34 felony counts over his payoff to the porn star Stormy Daniels, keeping her quiet before the 2016 Presidential election about their sexual relationship. He avoided trial in three other felony cases, with 54 counts, because of his victory in November 2024.

The reality TV star has been found guilty of defamation of E. Jean Carroll and ordered to pay her $83.5 million, in a civil case arising from his sexual assault of her in the dressing room of a New York City department store in the mid-1990s. The judge found the assault was “tantamount to rape”.

The Trump Organization was found guilty of fraud by a New York State court and fined $454 million. It is trying to avoid payment of the judgement.

None of this will be mentioned during Trump’s visit as he is hosted by the Royal Family on Wednesday and meets UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday.

So in the 16-minute chat, I analyze how Trump is using the visit to stroke his ego, while the UK Goverment is using it for “damage limitation” over Trump’s tariffs, his chaotic approach to foreign policy, and his camp’s promotion of the UK Reform Party.

There are people around Trump who want to change British politics. They even want to change the UK Government.

Watch from 7:41: