As we previewed extensively, Donald Trump has now arrived in the UK for his three-day state visit, where he will be fêted and fluffled by nearly all of the senior members of the royal family. Donald and Melania Trump arrived at Buckingham Palace a short time ago, where they were greeted by the Queen, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall. After this inspecting-the-troops formality happens, the Trumps will have lunch with the Queen and Prince Harry. Then the Queen will give the Trumps a mini-tour of the Royal Collection. In the afternoon, the Trumps will visit Westminster Abbey with Prince Andrew, and then have tea at Clarence House with the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall. This evening is the state dinner/banquet, which the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will attend, and Kate will wear a tiara.
Here’s footage of the Queen greeting the Trumps. I still say that while Melania is probably the most useless human being on the planet, the royals are probably very glad she’s there to act as some kind of buffer. After Bigly says something unhinged, the Queen can turn to Melania and talk about the weather or something.
The Queen officially welcomes President Trump to Buckingham Palace, with the sound of a gun salute in the background#TrumpUKVisit latest updates: https://t.co/4zaqzAiNZz pic.twitter.com/yG3bG7qAVz
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) June 3, 2019
In addition to all that, Trump has been particularly stupid on Twitter over the past 24 hours. First, he denied calling Meghan “nasty.” Spoiler: he totally called her nasty.
I never called Meghan Markle “nasty.” Made up by the Fake News Media, and they got caught cold! Will @CNN, @nytimes and others apologize? Doubt it!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 2, 2019
Then he attacked Peggy Noonan…? Who can only be reached if you leave a trail of bread crumbs by Reagan’s tomb. And by bread crumbs, I mean tequila shots. And of course Trump also attacked Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London:
….Kahn reminds me very much of our very dumb and incompetent Mayor of NYC, de Blasio, who has also done a terrible job – only half his height. In any event, I look forward to being a great friend to the United Kingdom, and am looking very much forward to my visit. Landing now!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 3, 2019
Photos courtesy of Getty.
Charles is making zero effort to appear happy. Fabulous.
Meanwhile, Nagini is trying to take over the palace. She’s all in white too. Ready the chocolate milkshakes.
He called Chuck, Charles and did not address him using his proper styling which is ‘Your Royal Highness’ probably because he thinks he’s Emperor of America.
Nagini was the first to arrive, she went to the Mary Quant exhibition at the V&A to steal designs for her crap fashions made in China. Ken Doll was also there looking creepy – I hope they nailed down all the valuables.
Someone should tell Trump that Buckingham Palace is 17 times bigger than the White House and has more gold inside than all the Trump ‘properties’ combined – that’ll make his head implode.
Nagini heavily photoshopped the picture she posted on Instagram yesterday. She’s trying to make it look like she has a smaller waist and hips and results in an image that would never be able to support the top of her body.
DU-
But do they have a golden toilet?
Nagini’s dad looks like a used-car salesman, with his cheap suit, dodgy hair and barge-arse. His hideous head looks almost worse from the back. Almost. Ugh.
LP, I need to see that pic—NEED to! Can you give me directions or a link? Make my day!
She posted it on her Instagram and the papers are using her picture instead of one of their own. She’s been trying to photoshop her waist and hips quite a bit lately. On Kentucky Derby day, she posted one of herself that looked like her waist could snap in two and pretty much erased her left hip and part of the horse’s stomach. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.express.co.uk/life-style/style/1135464/ivanka-trump-news-pictures-london-donald-state-visit-instagram/amp
THANK you, LP–I just went there via yr link, and omgggggg, it’s SO obvious! How does she imagine she’s getting away with that?!?
Nagini!! I can’t believe I’m just learning this🐍🐍🐍 it’s so perfect
Nagini is the most dangerous person of this dictator family. She has a Plan.
The political reporting on this site is exactly why I stopped following. Came back today but it is still the same. Bye bye.
Too bad, so sad 🙁
Can’t we stop talking politics on a celebrity gossip site?
Buh-bye!
Adios!!!
Damn, we heard you the first time. Now, skedaddle.
Politicians are celebrities too. And if you don’t care to read some very well-informed and educated opinions on politics here don’t bother reading those posts.
When a reality TV celebrity becomes president then I think commentary here is fully justified. You are free to disagree and free to choose another site for celebrity gossip.
I prefer this greeting
https://twitter.com/dianas_house/status/1135515946699907075?s=21
Love it.
Fabulous!
Perfect!
Puerile, but bloody hilarious and fitting!
That was brilliant! Plus, I burst out laughing. “Oi! Trump!” LOL. So perfect.
Not a popular opinion, but I’m totally convinced the royals are of the same ilk as Trump. No sense in expecting anything different from them. Someone who has repeatedly offended fellow countrymen and women in the royal family should not be feted. Period.
Agreed. Aside from Meghan (and perhaps Harry), the royals have been known to hold pretty conservative personal views and have very shady pasts – im sure Prince Andrew will especially get along with Bigly the most as they both ran in that creepy Jeffrey Epstein circle…
The Guardian reported that Andrew will be Trump’s minder because they both like golf. Side eye.
Oh, that’s good to know, Megan – I came on to say they should buddy up Bigly with the creep, Randy Andy. What a pair of nobs.
Mousy, I’d bet the present tense “RUN in that creepy” is more accurate.
That’s right they can discuss their favorite Epstein girls together….a special bond.
Of the “major royals,” I do think Charles, Harry, and Meghan (obvs.) are liberal. Harry said racist things in the past, but I do believe he tried to educate himself and grow and Charles is in the same vein (and he’s making no effort to look happy, unlike the Queen, around Trump).
But I completely agree that it looks TERRIBLE that they are hosting them. Only 3 state visits, and Trump gets the privilege, and it’s on the Royal family to decide who gets the honor?
HM does not get to decide who gets honored. The government tells her who to invite and she does so no matter how terrible they may be.
Liberalism is about equality & there’s nothing equal about the monarchy. Choosing to remain part of an antiquated institution & enjoying the privileges that comes with it is not progressive. If any of the royals were true progressives they would give up their place to the throne & taxpayer funded lifestyles and become private citizens.
The modern monarchy is a total anachronism and Queen is well aware of that. It’s continued existence has more to do with pageantry and lots to do with tourism.
@Skeptical, when Charles spoke at a Harvard commencement ages ago, he began with “I stand before you a living anachronism, tailored into invincibility…” My mother used to recite that line quite frequently so it has stuck in my head for life.
Lightpurple, that’s a great line.
Headline from The Daily Express:
Jeremy Corbyn PLEDGES SUPPORT to Donald Trump protesters – ‘This is an opportunity’
Cannot vote in the UK but if I could, I vote for Corbyn just on the above headline!
Based on the article, Corbyn cannot stand Chump.
@Bay, Corbyn is a hard-core leftie who supports Brexit and his party is haemorrhaging supporters. He’s an awful leader of the Labour party and has ignored its rampant anti-semitism. Most of our politicians are horrid for one reason or another.
Tina,
Right now on this given day…I do not have the energy to put down anyone who who is willing to protest Chump. Today, I stand with anyone who is able to go outside and protest Chump.
Friday is another day and I am sure I will go back to being very picky but not today or tomorrow.
What is wrong with being a “leftie”. In the USA, I am considered a pinko-commie-liberal-labor supporting-socialist-progressive. Many who post on this blog are just as liberal (maybe even more) as I am
@Bay, when I say “hard-core leftie,” I mean hard-core by UK standards. Marxist, wants to nationalise the means of production and turn the UK into Venezuela kind of leftie. And I am not exaggerating.
I think the royals are conservative by nature, but I think Trump is in an altogether different category. It’s not just that he’s mean, but that he’s, well, an unprecedented level of tacky (i.e his Twitter account).
The Queen didn’t like Margaret Thatcher, so I can see them having an aversion to Trump (who is not just cruel, but tacky. Thatcher was just cruel. The tackiness part probably makes even conservatives go ew.) I’m trying to picture the royals liking Boris Johnson, and to be honest, I can’t. I’m not sure if that’s because they’re British people of a certain class, but I feel like they expect their politicians to at least have some veneer of public civility even if they’re doing cruel things behind everyone’s backs. I don’t know if it’s because of some possibly outdated perception I have of old money people, but I feel they expect some kind of decorum from public figures, and Trump doesn’t have any at all.
The difference is Trump is mentally ill and evil.
I had no idea that Mrs. Thatcher was a cruel woman. I’ve never heard this of her. I’m going to have to google this.
@Lady D, there’s a reason why they celebrated her death in Sheffield, Scotland and many other places. She was a cruel woman in many respects.
Lordy, I attended a speech by Thatcher in 1991 or 1992, all she did was talk about her love for Reagan and how nationalized healthcare is the root of all evil.
Trump isn’t really a Republican or a conservative. He’s just a Trump. He is out for himself and that’s all. His weasely family are all the same way.
Trump was originally a registered Democrat and an open Hillary Clinton supporter, although he always donated to both sides because he thought that gave him an edge in collecting favors. I think he rarely voted. At least in one documentary about him, the cameras followed him to the polls on Election Day and it seemed all new to him. He hadn’t even checked to see where he was supposed to go, so they ended up at the wrong place. There was a problem with his registration at the second place and he illegally took the provisional ballot out to his limo to fill it out. You are not supposed to remove those from the building. He was being such a loud mouthed prick and so disruptive that nobody stopped him.
All this stuff about religion and anti-abortion and bring American jobs home etc. is just to please his minority of supporters and to get the Evangelicals on board. He has always depended on paying peanuts to undocumented workers and getting his merchandise made in China, Vietnam, and Bangladesh from materials purchased from those areas as well. Trump Tower was built with Chinese steel and Polish construction workers, and every year he gets special visas for Eastern Europeans to work as maids and cooks etc. at his resorts and golf clubs. These are not jobs for which there is a shortage of Americans seeking them.
Trump only got 1/4 of the potential votes from registered voters. He would not be President without 1) extensive Russian help and 2) vote shifting by the machines from Clinton to him, which has been going on since 2004 (always shifting votes from Democrats to Republicans). Also millions of people were blocked from voting in various ways, it is assumed that they would probably have mainly voted for Clinton or else the Republican incumbents would not have tried to suppress them. Republicans shut down recounts in three states. The margin that gave Trump the electoral votes needed was so tiny (within machine error) that no matter who was declared the winner, there should have been mandatory recounts. If we don’t insist on paper ballots and mandatory hand recounts in 2020, don’t expect much. The Democrats will need to win by an extraordinary margin to outrun the hackers.
I think Trump has collected a lot of dirt on the Republican Senators, especially Lindsey Graham. McCain must have been able to protect Graham while he was still alive, because Graham transmogrified into a virulent Trumpy only after McCain died. Putin must have hit paydirt when he hacked the Republicans. There is no other reason for them to have reversed themselves to protect Trump at all costs. Their agenda would be pushed by Pence with no problems.
This is the mob boss that the UK has allowed into their country to contaminate the Queen. A guy who is trying to hold on to the position of POTUS because he will be indicted as soon as he leaves office.
Thank you jwoolman!
However, I must ask, what did you mean by “machines”. I am not sure I understand.
There are conservatives and then there are Trumpers. I don’t generally agree with conservatives, but some of it I can understand and I can discuss, especially fiscal conservatives. No way is Trump fiscally conservative. He just spends loads more money on things he likes. Now socially conservative, I would say the royal family and the Queen especially is generally conservative. But they are conservative in terms of the UK and Europe population, not US social conservatism. US social conservatism is of a whole other level.
@Lady D: Thatcher used to call Pinochet a friend and Mandela a terrorist, she’s the reason Apartheid lasted so long, had the UK participate in the boycott, and hadn’t pressured Reagan not to, it could have ended earlier. She also let workers on hunger strikes die, let thousands lose their jobs and fall into poverty while cutting into the social safety net that could have otherwise helped them bounce back.
Thatcher was cruel and had blood on her hands, many said good riddance when she finally died (I’m glad Mandela lasted longer than she did). Though I dunno if she and QEII got along or not, Lizzie has met, and was ok with meeting, lots of monsters, Trump isn’t even in the top 5
Agree. The idea that any of the royals (*any* of them) are secret socialists, not Conservative, or dedicated liberals is beyond fantasy and pure projection. They are all conservatives – it’s the very reason they exist, tbh. They may not be the hardest of hard right conservatives (hopefully? I mean, some of them probably are if we’re being honest) but they do, at the very least, align with the “hug-a-hoodie” conservatism of Cameron (whom Meghan tweeted admiration of – “a class act”) and the other so called Compassionate Conservatism Tories such as Gyimah, Rudd and, William and Harry’s former tutor and current Tory leadership/Prime Minister hopeful, Stewart. It is what it is.
Was it ever explained why Meghan liked David Cameron? I’m genuinely curious because the only liking I can see that she’d have to him is that he’s British. But he’s as shady as any other politicians out there. Because she’s actually educated in international relations, I figure she’d be more informed than the rest of the royal family about what he’s like.
But Trump is not really conservative. He doesn’t live a conservative lifestyle, he knows nothing about religion, he doesn’t follow conservative economic principles and his behavior is anything but conservative. He is a known conman without even the bare amount of manners. He’s as close to a caveman as a human can get. The GOP leaders laugh at him behind the scenes and only support him because he helps pass their policies and their voting base likes Trump.
Original T.C.- exactly, he’s as conservative as he is a Christian. He’s a republican because those policies keep him rich and apparently free from any type of accountability but he’s nothing else. He’s the lowest of the low.
Yes, Original T.C. There’s a difference between being politically “conservative”, such as being a Republican, and being traditionally “conservative“, as in being restrained, reserved, modest etc., which the BRF are. I’m a leftie from way back; my behaviour is conservative, but my beliefs certainly aren’t.
David Cameron would fit squarely within the Democratic party, if he were American. You can’t compare US and UK conservatives (well, except in Northern Ireland).
@Original T.C. – exactly! Trump is a conservative because it was most expedient for him to get a political following that way. I don’t really think he deeply believes in any set of political views except for those that excite the people that will vote for him.
“David Cameron would fit squarely within the Democratic party, if he were American. You can’t compare US and UK conservatives (well, except in Northern Ireland).”
True, but he abandoned everything after the referendum was lost. He called a referendum to settle an internal party split falsely thinking that he could consolidate more power, and then promptly quit when he knew that Brexit couldn’t be solved (it still hasn’t been as indicated by the bickering continuing to go on). That’s a sign of personal character that doesn’t make him look good regardless of whether the Tories are less conservative in nature than the Republicans. He’s not a class act in the true sense of what that phrase is supposed to mean. She doesn’t appear to have praised him on a specific policy, but called him a class act which is baffling to me in terms of what his actual character is like.
I’m not saying she doesn’t have a right to like him, but in this instance I would not have praised him publicly when he hasn’t shown that particular quality during his political career.
@perplexed, I agree with you 100%. Just pointing out that Cameron is not a US-style conservative in the way Trump purports to be. (This is also relevant to the OP – even most British Conservatives don’t agree with most of Trump’s policies, so it’s very unlikely that the royals would support them).
The Queen’s big beaming smile while greeting him just made her plummet in my book. Sorry Queenie, you are now officially on my shit list.
Trump deserves no quarter or cover, not even socially.
It is called diplomacy.
Leena — Yes, dear, I know what diplomacy is. Thank you very much. I just don’t believe Trump deserves to be treated with diplomatic grace. But hey, thanks for being a condescending gasbag.
Ader –
Actually, your second sentence suggests you are missing the whole point of diplomacy. She is respecting the office of the man not the man himself.
But hey, thanks for your polite and grown up reply. Very diplomatic.
Clearly, you are missing my point. Again, as I have already stated, I do not believe Trump deserves diplomatic grace. And at this point, any sane human should see that. And no, at this point, I don’t believe the “respecting-the-office” argument holds any weight.
And it cracks me up when folks come in hot with passive aggressive quips, and then cry maturity and decency when someone comes back at them. It’s like the kid who pushes another kid on the playground, then runs away claiming that they’re the one being bullied. Pfft. Get outta here with that nonesense.
Fine, we will agree to differ.
Trump doesn’t deserve to be treated with grace BUT it is her JOB to do it. It reflects badly on the UK if she behaves rudely. She is showing respect to her own office, not to him. And GB needs a post-Brexit trade agreement with the US. And they have to go through him to get it. For the sake of her nation, it is her job to smile, whether she wants to do so or not.
Lightpurple, I understand what you’re saying. I just couldn’t get over how HUGE the smile was. Polite? Fine. A grin? fine. The queen is perpetually in resting-bitch-face mode — a somber greeting would have been fine. So the fact that we saw a GIANT smile out of her left a very, very bad taste in my mouth. She was straight up beaming!
To me, like anything else, there are limits to diplomacy…and it just bothers me, in general, that the UK rolled out the red carpet for this cretin.
@Ader If you watch the video you will see she was plainly laughing at something Trump said. After that, she returns to her regular resting face. Photos tell the story the Photog and editor want you to see.
@Meghan.
Here’s the thing: I hate Trump so much that I can’t even abide the queen laughing at something he said. I’m immovable. He is a racist, toxic, dangerous pile of shit, who has crossed the diplomatic Rubicon.
Yes, I know about the Brexit trade predicament. Yes, I understand diplomacy. Yes, I understand how marketing and media work. I’m just at the point where I feel like decent countries should be shunning him when it comes to this kind of ceremonial display. We all know the queen doesn’t negotiate trade deals. There are legislators and commerce secretaries and ministers to sort that out. I’m of the opinion that we need to forgo all the ceremonial pomp and circumstance for this grifter president and his family, and anyone who is playing along, at this point, is complicit in some toxic shit.
@Meghan, All the decent people in the USA (conservative, moderate & progressive) are so sick of this racist, toxic, dangerous pile of shit and his family that we have been forced to quit watching the evening news so we will not up-chuck up dinner at the reporting and re-telling of the latest disgusting thing Chump has said on done.
Trump’s own party (other than Flake, Corker & McCain and Amash) will not call him out for fear of losing the vote of other racist, toxic, dangerous piles of shit. WE NEED ALL THE HELP WE CAN GET to make it to November 2019.
Seeing QEII play nice is disturbing. We know she is only doing her job but it is still disturbing to watch.
What were you expecting? The queen would flip Trump the bird and let her corgis pee on him? Of course she is going to be welcoming. You can put all the lawmakers and commerce secretaries you want in a room, but you have not been paying attention if you think they will get a deal if Trump feels disrespected. Even if an official state visit was explicitly part of the deal, it was clearly implicit.
I remain skeptical that the U.K. will get anything close to what they want because Kindergarteners have a better grasp of trade and economics than Trump, but they need to try because $130 billion in annual exports is on the line. I am not going to crap on the queen because racist Brexiters eked out a majority.
@Meghan, No, I did not expect QEII to flip Chump a bird. I expected the QEII to do exactly what she did. I have no problems with QEII.
My problem is with Donald J. Chump.
“What were you expecting? The queen would flip Trump the bird and let her corgis pee on him? ” This is an argument ad absurdum. As I already said: Polite? Fine. Beaming from ear-to-ear, laughing at his jokes? Nope. Especially from a woman who refuses to say word one about her own country’s media being racist shit stains to her grandgraughter-in-law.
@Ader – You clearly do not get what is at stake for the U.K. and how truly petty and mean Trump is. The queen is not going to f*ck up a massive trade deal because Trump is a despicable person. Unlike Trump, she can put duty and honor to her country first.
Not sure what not offending the most powerful person in the world has to do with Meghan’s treatment by the press, but, sure, you do you.
@Meghan — Do you not understand the word “polite”? Again, for the THIRD TIME: Polite? Fine. Beaming? Nope. Not in my book.
As for your last comment, how people conduct themselves across the board matters. I was merely pointing out that the Queen stays quiet about racist attacks against her own family member, but welcomes Mr. Known Racist with beaming smiles. It’s not good optics, at all, from where I’m sitting.
Again, the whole package makes me question what affection I once had for the queen. She’s revealed something about herself through her actions and lack of action.
She’s revealed she does the job she’s ordered to do, happy face and all.
Sorry nota, I can’t agree. This all has a ripple effect. Both Trump and all the racist royal watchers around the world will use this media to continue their toxic crusade, which has real-life, racial-stress consequences.
The way I see it, maintaining a polite grin all the way through would have been the best way to handle this. And she has had decades of practice at that.
The queen’s performance was the very essence of polite. She made a guest in her home feel welcome. You are suggesting the queen should have been curt, which, frankly, could have sparked an international incident.
From the beginning, Meghan, I have stated that my issue is the BIG BEAMING SMILE. Why is this not getting through? To me, there is a difference between her teeth-mugging, and a polite grin, which conveys welcome, but isn’t over-the-top. Curt is different than polite.
Coupled with other choices the Queen has made in recent months, it’s starting to make me realize I have probably been wrong about her.
End of story.
Perhaps she was laughing AT him? I can imagine him saying something bigly stupid and her laughing at his idiocy. That scenario gives me joy.
Pamspam, LOL. That is an argument I’m willing to consider…lol.
The Duchess of Cornwall was doing the MOST this evening, when Trump gave his speech, not to laugh. I thought I was watching SNL. 🙂
I understand most Americans are extremely frustrated about Trump being their head of state, but the rest of the world doesn’t really care that much. The queen was welcoming to worse people. (Ceausescu and Mugabe come to mind.)
The rest of the world SHOULD care. Apathy doesn’t equal accuracy. And appeasement is not a solid foreign policy position.
In response to your thread downstream, I think the queen was laughing at one point because she asked trumpo if he remember an artifact she pointed out to him and he didn’t, but Melania said it was the gift they gave her last year.at thevpoint, I think she was secretly laughing at what a tool he is.
Deedee,
LOL. I hope that’s true! Like I said to pamspam, the idea that Queenie was laughing AT him is an argument I’ll consider!
But this idea that we need to be nice to him OR ELSE nonsense? Nah. Too Neville Chamberlain for me, personally.
And, I’ll add:
1) Didn’t like that she wore Rubies at the state dinner (too U.S. Republican for me).
2) I DID like her speech, and felt she was trying to make a point and remind him that institutions like the United Nations have a real purpose.
3) I DID like that, as the present, she gave him a book about Nazis being shit stains.
4) As an aside, DIDN’T love how Kate was yucking it up with Mnuchin…it was too much.
So, we’ll see…..
Ader, here’s what the Queen’s job is: The sovereign’s role as a constitutional monarch is largely limited to non-partisan functions. Her personal opinion is put aside for the purpose of maintaining good trade relations and she does it with grace and aplomb because that is her JOB. She is used to dealing professionally with thin-skinned megalomaniacs. What do you expect her to do? Explode with rage-tweeting or refuse to do what her government requests her to do in the interests of the entire United Kingdom? Her subjects are doing a fine job of shaming Trump and his despicable family – she rises above all that and acts with the diplomacy and discretion her role requires.
We all despise Trump and his egregious, grifting family. He is a narcissist, an egomaniac and crooked as a dog’s hind leg but you catch more flies with honey than vinegar and I have to give the Queen kudos for dealing with a difficult situation honourably and respectfully.
“The rest of the world SHOULD care. Apathy doesn’t equal accuracy. And appeasement is not a solid foreign policy position.”
I’m sure the rest of the world does care, but honestly there’s nothing the rest of the world can do. Only Americans can vote him out of office — the responsibility lies with Americans.
Also, every country has their own problems to solve. Britain is trying to solve their Brexit mess — they’ve got worries of their own and many are busy protesting the government they currently have. It’s not like their headspace can be only focused on Americans when they’ve got a whole other platter full of problems to solve in their own country.
Right Leena. Again, It’s perfectly fine for Meghan to say “You don’t understand” to me; but the second I do it, it’s a problem? Get out of here with your double standards. If you want to throw around passive aggressive barbs, be prepared to be bitten back.
@Jaded — I said what I said and stand by it. I don’t need the lecture. Bottom line is that I felt the smile was too big. I understand her job, I just disagree that she needed to mug it up. For the millionth time: I PERSONALLY believe that there was a way to do all you say without a BIG BEAMING SMILE.
And, as I explained to someone else up-thread: “Explode with rage-tweeting or refuse to do what her government requests her to do in the interests of the entire United Kingdom?”
This is an argument ad absurdum. If you had just read what I wrote throughout this thread, then you’d realize that no, I don’t expect that.
@perplexed.
Yes, I understand that every country has its own problems. And yes, I’m fully aware that only Americans can vote Trump out. (Geez, people!)
I simply think it’s essential for all of us to care about what’s happening around the world. I may not live in France, but I’m definitely concerned about what’s going on there now. Why is this a problem?
And, for the record, to everyone in this thread: After watching footage last night, I think Charles handled himself appropriately, and nobody is calling his “performance” rude or damaging. For the last time: I just didn’t appreciate the big, beaming, welcoming smile. And, as I also said up-thread: I thought the Queen did a good job with her speech and present. It was diplomatic, but not fawning, and sent a subtle message.
Not a popular opinion at all.
AGREEEEEEEEE. I’m sure Phillip is cut from the same cloth as Trump as well as Prince Andrew. Charles may not look to thrilled but the beaming uncontrollable smile on the Queens face says enough. The only non conservative in that family is Meghan.
@Megan. They’re also both friends of Jeffrey Epstein and have probably fucked the same girls.
Or raped. If they’re underage as many of them with Epstein are. So, I will use the qualifier, rape.
Absolutely agree. I think they probably dislike him for being gaudy, but see nothing wrong with his overall views and actions. They tolerate Princess Michael, celebrate Prince Phillip, etc.
I don’t think this is an unpopular opinion, and you’re not fully wrong either. I think that Charles, Harry, Meghan and some of the others of the younger generation are fine. But they absolutely belong to a class of people whose politics are often terrible. You can’t count on the aristocracy to give much of an eff about anything except themselves and their trust funds, frankly. The Tony Benns in that crowd are just a few, and far in between.
This is one of the few times when I think the royal family genuinely has to work for their money.
That’s a genuine smile on the queen’s face and I don’t see her smiling like that at a lot of people. Birds of a feather…
I read that smile as a “why am I here smile” – not genuine. To each his own opinion.
My guess is she had gin for breakfast.
People are projecting because they like her. It’s a genuine smile.
She might just have surrendered all attempts at etiquette and protocol and decided to laugh through the whole travesty.
QE2 is a career diplomat. She doesn’t need to do anything but walk Trump around and let him bump into himself.
I watched the live feed and he clearly said something to her as he approached – I couldn’t hear what he said but I think it was something amusing and to me it looked like a laughing smile.
The idea that the garbage woman who wore a jacket that said “I really don’t care, do you?” to visit her husband’s concentration camps on the border is somehow the “better” person to talk to in this scenario is mildly terrifying but sure.
And then yesterday she wore a very expensive dress that had famous British landmarks on it. She’s just a rich tourist! Maybe she’ll ask TQ for a selfie!
Be Best! Be Best!
This is the woman who after I don’t know how any years in the States still can’t speak English. Because she really doesn’t care. She cares about shopping.
I was thinking the same thing. If she’s so educated and speaks several languages why can’t she speak the language? Much better showing her tits.
Yup
I’m just going to say it: the Queen rolling out the stops for a state visit makes her look very bad. There have only been three state visits for U.S. Presidents—why doe she have to give him one? And yes, I know she’s hosted even worse than horrible, fascist Trump on occasion but few who will use the visit (like Trump will undoubtedly do) as straight up propaganda. The big, open mouth smile doesn’t help either, especially as she doesn’t always smile.
She’s just a figurehead, yes, but the state visits are her decision and whenever she does one for such a horrible figure (and once again, I’m aware that most politicians are horrible but there are degrees and Trump is one of the worst) it seems like she is tacitly condoning his message.
I”m going to give Charles credit in that he looks miserable and I sincerely believe he tries to do good. He was a terrible husband to Diana and yes, occasionally says mildly bigoted things (like many extremely privileged white men of his age), but I think he at least attempts to be inclusive, welcoming, not racist or sexist, etc.
I agree. It’s disgusting.
It’s not really up to the Queen as to who gets a state visit. The Prime Minister is who decides to invite people and The Queen sadly just has to go with it.
State visits aren’t HM’s choice. She is advised by the foreign and commonwealth offices on who to invite and when the visit should take place. Refusing to honor a request to invite Trump would have been a clear political move and would have created a huge scandal.
As is always the case with Trump, this is a situation in which everyone loses and looks bad. Like Rick Wilson said, everything Trump touches dies.
Trump really is a splash of daylight on the underbelly and rot in all institutions and countries he visits. If I weren’t so appalled and worried daily for the future of the US, I would find this fascinating.
I don’t want to say this, because I’m fully aware that I’m not in the Queen’s situation here. But she was literally born into diplomacy. That is a huge part of her job. She’s been on the throne for more than 65 years now, longer than any other monarch in English or British history, and she’s managed far worse situations and crises than this. If anyone, at this point in time, could diplomatically turn down a state visit request for Donald Trump, without incurring the requisite consequences of looking bad, it would be the Queen Elizabeth the II. And she didn’t.
I get that she has to play nice, but there are ways to play nice and not entertain this a-hole too.
It’s hard to understand why anyone would have rolled out the red carpet like this. Possibly some kind of distraction?
This is like having a mean-spirited, insult hurling neighbor two streets away, who is likely moving in a year or two anyway. Yet you choose to throw a big party for him?
Unfortunately, Brexit means the UK needs a trade deal with the US before 2020.
The British Government is forcing the royal family to do this because of BREXIT!!! If they actually go through with it then they need the US and all major states as trading partners. Trump is human garbage (whom I truly hate) and I wish he wasn’t the president but the Royal Family and UK gov has to think of its long term health and economy which means they might have to do things like put up with a sociopath to maintain a relationship with the WORLDS LARGEST ECONOMY>
@K unfortunately, unless the UK is willing to concede to Trump’s every demand, it won’t get a deal. Look at how they rolled out the red carpet in Japan only for Trump to threaten tariffs if his crazy demands were not met.
With all the evidence shown in the past 2 1/2 years, it’s amazing that the U.K. actually thinks they can trust anything Trump says. He can be okay with a trade deal one minute and then reverse himself completely the next minute. This is not idle speculation – he has actually done such things repeatedly. Everything is always in turmoil with this man as a result. Nobody knows what he is going to destroy next. Has anybody in the U.K. government been paying attention?
Really, if your economy depends on a trade deal with the US, you are doomed. You should be making strong bonds with other countries. The US is not a reliable trading partner, and who knows what our own economy is going to look like by the end of the year. Obama handed over a strong economy, but Trump keeps doing things pretty much guaranteed to crash it. If he manages to start a war with Iran, are you going to send British troops to join the folly
again? If the U.K. really wants to be independent, they should start by becoming independent of their former colony here.
It is a waste of time and dignity to give him the pomp of this state visit. The U.K. will not get a reliable trade deal out of it. They have to wait until we have a rational President, and who knows when that will be.
Isn’t Theresa May due to resign at the end of the week? What a way to cap her tenure as PM lol! Two and a half years of utter and complete shambles, ending with a state visit from Donald Trump. Unbelievable.
Theresa May decided to give the idiot a state visit, not the Queen. She does not decide when state visits happen. She may have a role in terms of how the visit plays out and who participates in it, but she cannot refuse to meet a head of state if the PM wants it done.
The Queen, and the government (both Red and Blue), has bestowed the honour of state visits to worse people than Trump and with less protest. It looks bad but it’s just what they do. NB. This isn’t a defence of Trump. I hate him enormously.
Are you guys sure Queen Elizabeth has no choice? Because the way I’ve seen it reported she is given “advice” on who to invite for a state visit but has the final say so. Not every president who visits the U.K. and meets with the Prime Minister is given a state visit, either.
“Advice” is a polite term. The queen cannot remain neutral in politics if she is picking and choosing what “advice” to follow. The PM decides what relationships will benefit from an official state visit.
It really does. None of the royal family members get a pass for this…
They have no choice — they don’t decide what head of state will visit or not visit, the government, AKA the Prime Minister does. The Queen and other members of the BRF take their marching orders from the government. The Queen and BRF HAVE to remain neutral or be accused of what amounts to influence-peddling.
The royal family’s position requires the support of parliamentarians — on either side of the political divide. To support one party — or cause — will only lead to trouble further down the line.
She can’t refuse; otherwise, she’d be seen as interfering in politics.
Her job is to be a diplomat who never says anything against the government. It is what it is — and she was born into it. Asking her to deviate from what she was born into and has been coached to do from birth seems unrealistic to me.
She wasn’t born into it — no one expected her to be in line for the throne until her uncle, Edward VIII, abdicated when she was 10, so that he could marry Wallis Simpson.
But I agree that it would be very emotionally difficult and against both personality and training for her to go directly against protocol dictating her appearance of studied neutrality in political matters.
“She wasn’t born into it — no one expected her to be in line for the throne until her uncle, Edward VIII, abdicated when she was 10, so that he could marry Wallis Simpson.”
Fair enough. But duty dictates her behaviour and it seems to have been ingrained into her some notion of duty. The moment her father became King, even if she knew she was not born immediately into the line of succession, I’m sure she knew she’d be trained for some kind of diplomatic role as they all are ( Young Prince Harry is 6th in line — pretty far down — and I’m sure he has to keep a muzzle on things. Look at him, he and William have to go to that dinner too. They know the insults Trump has thrown at their mother, but clearly a muzzle has been put on them. Based on personal attacks alone, I’m sure they dislike Trump).
I guess I think it’s strange to impose expectations on the Queen divorced from how she was brought up, what generation she comes from, and what the political state structure expects from her. Her job is to keep the monarchy (her company, so to speak) alive, not kill it — while of, course, representing her country.
Even if she didn’t enter the direct line of succession, HM would have been expected to be a working royal and would have been well educated in the do’s and don’t’s of being a royal.
Princess Elizabeth used to pray every night for a younger brother so she wouldn’t have to be Queen. From the Nanny Crawford book iirc.
Whether she was born into it or not is beside the point. She knew from a very young age what her responsibilities to the monarchy was. She didn’t get this stuff thrown at her at the age of 25 out of nowhere. She was very much trained for this from the age of 10, and she had likely been made aware of the prospect of her one day being Queen even before then. Edward had been notoriously wayward for years by that point. King George V, the Queen’s grandfather, had openly said that he hoped Edward wouldn’t have children and that the throne could go to George VI and Elizabeth unimpeded.
Exactly. It’s gross that she’s being this accommodating, and it reflects terribly on the royal family — even Harry and Charles.
Ader, haven’t you read the plethora of information on this thread that the Queen has no choice – she and the BRF are merely doing their jobs that parliament and the Prime Minister control. SHE HAS NO CHOICE. She can’t just say “well I’m not meeting with that f*cker and his effin’ family. I’m sleeping in and taking the corgis for a walk.” If you want to blame someone blame the UK parliament and Theresa May, she invited the assh*le there.
I understand she has no choice but to entertain him, and I understand there are repercussions to pissing off the manchild, but I’m with Ader when it comes to the size of her smile with Trump. This woman is a past master at holding a polite expression/smile on her face. She should be after 64 years of practice. I’m going to hope and go with the ‘he said something funny and she laughed about it, and that’s where they caught the picture,’ rather than the alternative.
My understanding is the Queen doesn’t decide these visits, and the British government wants this visit because of Brexit. The UK needs to establish a relationship to their benefit with the US if Brexit does occur. One way to make Trump happy is the pomp and circumstance and no one does it better than the Queen.
Listening to the news Prince Harry was spotted as far away in the room from Trump as possible and not engaging him all. It might be wishful thinking, but I love this gossip though, and I hope it’s true. Most people are like go Harry good job.
The Queen isn’t at fault, the UK government is. She is not the government, she is the figurehead doing the job the government requires her to do.
trump campaign denies trump called Meghan nasty by tweeting clip showing trump calling Meghan … nasty??????? And these morons are running the country.
https://theslot.jezebel.com/trump-campaign-tries-to-prove-trump-did-not-call-meghan-1835190644
Don’t believe what you see or hear. It’s the Trump cult motto.
Teasdale: Your Excellency, I thought you left.
Chicolini: Oh no. I no leave.
Teasdale: But I saw you with my own eyes.
Chicolini: Well, who ya gonna believe me or your own eyes?
Duck Soup, Chico
Just sub ears for eyes and there we are.
Jerusha, you made my day for quoting the Marx Brothers.
Jerusha- yup, the Trump Administration is a national Marx Brothers movie. Just as bizarre but not as funny.
Oh my god. I still cannot believe what the president of our nation posts on twitter. Calling the mayor of London a loser? I haven’t seen behavior like this since I taught middle school ( I taught kids with emotional/behavioral disorders). It is utterly insane. How does half the country think this is okay? Do they?? He gets even more disturbing every day.
Funnily enough Khan (not Kahn)’s office replied more or less in the same vein as they did last year.
By politely refusing to rise to ‘childish insults’.
Speaking or childish, Baby Trump will be flying in it’s full glory tomorrow.
At this point I genuinely believe he may be in the early (or perhaps mid-) stages of dementia. The random abusive tweeting about Khan, the outright lies whilst himself linking to a recording that disprove the very lies he is telling, the contradictions he makes within the same statements… It is not normal. He isn’t just a horrible person, he is also clearly cognitively challenged.
Khan is Muslim so that’s why he’s posting insulting comments about the mayor of London. He plays to the bigot base with this stuff.
Yeah, us Muslims are looking forward to all the ways Trump’s going to indirectly and directly dog whistle insults our way this week.
@t I am so sorry. You deserve so much better from a US president.
@t, Chump is not the USA public. I apologize in advance for all the nasty things he will say.
But it is the US public, at least 40+ percent of them. 90 percent of registered Republicans support Trump in the latest polls.
Polls can be very mis-leading, especially at this stage of the USA election cycle.
Yes they can be. And yet all but a handful of Republican lawmakers are standing by him, supporting him, and blocking any attempts to check him. Their constituents are supporting them in that and threatening to vote them out if they are anti-Trump. They’re getting what they want re. racist immigration policies, the end of women’s agency over their own bodies, ending of LGBTQ protections, and oh, yeah, lower taxes for the wealthy. The majority of people who voted for Trump will vote for him again, no matter if the Trump balloon flies or not.
@notasugarhere, What do you want me to do? I hate him as much as you do.
The Electoral College System put Trump in office not the populist vote. 3 million more people voted for Clinton than voted for Trump. Over 51% of the people in the USA, based on the last popular vote in the election for POTUS, do not like him or want him.
Do tell, go on, what would you like me to do? If I can do it I will. You have my word.
And 70+ percent support Roe v. Wade, but still the Handmaids Tale version of the US rolls on. Polls said he wouldn’t win last time and here the world finds themselves. What do we all do to move forward with the EU falling prey to the same nationalists running the US Republican party and Brexit? I wish I knew.
“And 70+ percent support Roe v. Wade, but still the Handmaids Tale version of the US rolls on.”
Individual states in the USA have much more devolved legal power and authority than individual “counties” in the UK.
IMHO, no one is running the Republican Party in the USA which is a big part of the problem.
@BTB The Koch brothers and Sheldon Adelson are running the party and that IS the problem.
Obama was determined to not be seen as a partisan president and he let the Democratic grassroots go to hell. We lost school boards, state legislatures, governorship, and a lot of congressional seats. Rebuilding from the ground up takes time, but Stacey Abrams made it clear she is leading the charge and I hope every state follows her lead.
@Meghan, To a very large extent I agree with you regarding Koch & Adelson.
However, even though I admit there was hanky-panky going on with elections in many states (READ GEORGIA) Progressives did not get their a$$es to the polls and vote as they had in previous local & state elections during the Obama tenures.
The Progressive took back the House which was the first step nationally. Progressives must unify behind a single POTUS-VPOTUS ticket, unify behind a great platform then get to the polls to vote.
Look at the difference in those suits. Charles’ is perfectly tailored around the shoulders and neck and Trump’s… isn’t.
And Melania trying to dress in, like, the sexy version of Camilla’s outfit is hilarious.
15-love to the royals, so far.
DM is comparing melanie/melania to Audrey Hepburn.🤢🤮 Audrey never worked as a porn model or had plastic “kidneys” bursting out of a too tight suit. melanie looks more like a Dynasty extra, imo.
My first thought when seeing her photo was “1980s Dynasty”. Actually, it’s a weak attempt at Dynasty fashion.
Audrey??? Never.
It’s a weak attempt at Sexy Mary Poppins.
That dress is too tight. I can see panty lines.
My Fair Lady meets Mindy St. Claire.
omg… it totally has a “my fair lady” vibe.
I finally saw the front view (showing the collar).
From the side, it looks like she went to an Ormond clearance rack in 1984 and bought the only size close to hers (too small).
And that hat….she’s the cosplay of FLOTUS.
Love her or hate her, that dress looks amazing on her. I could live without the hat, but generally she dresses very well.
The too-tight dress showing off the panty lines and her plastic enhancements? I guess we’re lucky she didn’t wear her, “I really don’t care do u?” jacket this time.
You can also see her nipples in one of the photos. So incredibly inappropriate.
I’ll say something positive for now because I want to start my day with smile. Melania looks great and kudos to Camilla for holding her own. She looks equally great standing next to Melania and we know she hasn’t been nipped, tucked, sucked and poisoned!!!
Melania does NOT look great. She looks like a stripper in that skin tight dress. It’s so incredibly inappropriate.
Yeah, I was a little surprised at how good Camilla looked, even though she doesn’t fit the conventional standard for looks. Even though she does have a shadowy past (what with the affair with Charles and all), she does look more dignified than Melania, especially from the side. I thought Melania looked fine from the front, but then from the side I was like, “What. Never seen a First Lady emphasize their curves like that before.”
What? I think Camilla is a beautiful woman and looks truly lovely here.
Melania looks like her dress is 6 sizes to small.
Obviously beauty is in the eye of the beholder and personal taste varies, but based on a conventional standard of facial beauty, I don’t think Camilla ever fit it, not even when she was young (although she was slim – that convention she fit). I think Camilla is better looking as a 70 year old than she was as 25 year old. I don’t really think this is a shocking claim to make though. If Jennifer Aniston is considered to have unconventional features (and I think Aniston has always been pretty), then I think Camilla doesn’t really fit convention either.
To be fair, I don’t really think Melania is pretty either, mainly because she’s so fake looking. Camilla does have a certain inner beauty from simply being herself. I also think personal dignity for public occasions counts for something too, and it’s clear Camilla outshines Melania in that department. And I do think older women like Camilla who are just themselves are better looking than younger women who look hella plastic like Melania.
I think Camilla had (and has) masses of sex appeal, even if she’s not conventionally beautiful. Melania is the total opposite.
I think Camilla has an inner glow that shines brightly. Every time I see Camilla, I think to myself “I would love to have a bottle of wine with her”.
I like Melania’s hat… I’ll give her that.
Camilla looks amazing ,as always. She always looks so comfortable, too.
Melania’s dress is perfect. That’s all I get from this picture.
When your nipples are visible, it needs adjusting. Maybe a size or two up.
Nope. No couturier worthy of the name would ever produce a skirt/dress that highlights a pooch.
I think it would be much more flattering if it wasn’t so tight.
Her dress is Dulce and Gabbana. I guess John Galliano wasn’t available.
The issue i have with the outfit is during the arrival when Chump was touring the troops in the garden the footage kept cutting to The Queen’s face but unfortunately all you could see what Melania’s chest as well – mostly as TQ is small and that was where she came up to when standing next to FLOTUS. The tightness showed off those assets which distracted the gaze from TQ but I guess that’s why the camera kept cutting to it.
Melania’s legs are so very orange. She looks very try-hard.
Anyone ever seen trump with hat hair? Even worse than haystack hair.
https://twitter.com/jencents/status/1135457460788092929?s=21
He looks every inch the monster in those photo’s plus this is Jr in a few years. The Trump looks are strong, no amount of plastic surgery will deny them. The more Nagini tries to get rid of it the more it asserts itself.
That was taken yesterday, when he flew into Virginia Beach for a service for those killed in the latest mass shooting here. News said he flew *straight* from the golf course (so what you’re seeing is sweat soaked hair (and I use that term loosely!) combed back. He and his plastic wife stayed 15 min. in the back of the church, and didn’t say a word about it to the congregation. Then the slob just left.
And still wearing his golfing shoes. He removed his hat while walking onstage, iirc.
https://twitter.com/svdate/status/1135348059548934144?s=21
Saw pics of Ivanka on the balcony of BP, looking as smug as ever. And it seems Melania’s decided to mirror her husband’s baggy suits by wearing too-tight clothes as of late.
Yep! Just saw a clip of Ivanka. Someone should tell her she’s NOT a princess.
Oh sweet lord she is on the palace BALCONY!?!?!? I can’t look.
Melania’s dress is WAY too tight, are people serious? She looks like a…well, she looks like what she is.
+1
+2
And Trumpus needs a haircut and to stop that silly “aren’t I tough” downturn of the mouth, it looks daft.
It is too tight. I think she is a trash human, but she normally dresses beautifully. This is definitely too small.
The “I really don’t care do u?” jacket was dressing beautifully?
At least they won’t actually have to talk to trump because he never shuts up. He doesn’t have the slightest recognition of how much he is loathed.
Am watching the live feed on Sky News where TQ is showing items from the Royal Collection and it seems that pretty much EVERYONE from the White House is there. Have seen so far:
– John Bolton
– Sarah Huckabee
– Kellyanne
– Nagini and Ken Doll
Melania is the only one who is attempting to behave in a respectful manner and not like a bunch of tourists.
EDIT: Just spied Uday (I think).
When Melania is the most respectful of the bunch… I’d rather not finish this sentence.
I notice Harry is staying as far away as possible from the Orange Menace. And WTH with all the other staff in there? The place will have to be fumigated after they leave. I’m sure Dump is taking it all in — the history buff that he is. I’d give my eye teeth to be able to see all that…
The BRF should retreat to their digs in Scotland while hazmat teams make BP habitable again.
Steve Miller is also there so it is going to be a major clean up job.
@Meghan – I thought I saw him there hovering in the background.
I guess the question is who ISN”T there enjoying this nice tay payer jaunt.
FLOTUS’ hem is just terrible. All that money spent and basic tailoring is not done well.
Charles always looks great. His suit is impeccably tailored and his tie is gorgeous. Trump can make anything look crumpled and rumpled. 5 bucks says that tonight Charles and Camilla will giggle about Trump and his hair. Meanwhile, his entire family and staff look like a group that squeezed everyone they could into a van so that they only had to pay for parking one car.
I noticed that, too, ME.
I hope Harry threw a tea bag at him.
Harry looks like he dumped Ivanka as soon as he could. She looks like she was trying hard to engage him and he was more interested in talking to someone else. She was quickly led away and Harry disappeared. Trump’s are clueless…Royals are handling them. All of this is planned…Harry was to exit at the exhibit otherwise he would have stayed. Ivanka is so “thirsty”
I saw Prince Andrew escorting her and Ken Doll around.
Meanwhile, back home, Mrs. Yertle Turtle, like all trump appointees, is raking it in.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/02/us/politics/elaine-chao-china.html#click=https://t.co/fsMdwZsPMp
The UK really needs a trade deal, the whole Brexit ordeal is going to leave them in a very dire situation, so I get what they are doing, what I don´t get is the Queen smiling ear to ear, seriously, enough with the whole “the Queen is a diplomat”, they are all the same, privileged 1% who never suffer the consequences of the terrible policies that, publicly or privately, they aligned themselves with
She drinks gin at noon. I think that’s why she’s smiling — she’s trying to look sober.
The Queen is doing her job. She is dealing with a 4 year old that will throw a temper tantrum for anything and anywhere. Yes, Brits need the US so they must kiss Trump’s Ass and it’s a big orange Ass!!
Thanks Casey! The Queen had no choice in the matter regarding this visit. This is the work of the Conservatives. IMHO nobody, including Melania, wanted to be there except Chump based on what I saw on TV of the inspecting of the troops.
@Bay – Melania looks extremely uncomfortable, she wiped her hands on her skirt before shaking Chuck and Cams hands and has been clenching her fist the whole time.
Am watching the tour of Westminster Abbey – he does seem interested in what he’s seeing and is asking questions, what kind of questions I don’t know. Am sure there will be a tweet storm about what he’s learned today.
King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia – 30 October – 1 November 2007
Chinese President Hu Jintao – 8-10 November 2005
Russian President Vladimir Putin – 24-27 June 2003
These were the work of Labour – they all do it.
But they can’t rely on Trump for anything. He can say yes today and no tomorrow. He goes back on his word so easily, even within the hour. Ask the Canadians if you don’t believe me.
I wonder if that is why the huge entourage came with him? But it won’t help if other officials make agreements. Trump can still reverse them. He has done this many times before. He is doing it right now. He does it even when it clearly is devastating for the people who actually stupidly voted for him.
The U.K. is making a huge mistake if they think trade deals with the US that rely on flattering Trump will help them out post-Brexit. We are simply not a reliable trading partner right now. Your worst nightmare (and ours) will be if the Russians get Trump re-elected in 2020. Maybe you should be negotiating directly with Vladimir Putin, he’s the de-facto President of the US.
Trump meeting with Prince Andrew in Westminster Abbey? I smell trouble brewing. I bet Fergie will be hiding behind a column whispering in Andrew’s ear about how they can get some connections through Trump.
OMG! The DM says that the Trump entourage was 1,000 people! I wonder if we’ll be told how much this little jaunt cost.
I wonder if that includes the press corps?
‘Da fook? How can that be justified? I don’t understand why there isn’t rioting in your streets over the expense this “let them eat cake” government is costing you folks. It’s an abomination.
I will say, I think its really kind of mean that Will, Harry and Kate have to meet him. I know I know, the royal family has met lots of horrible people, but it feels different to me considering the personal insults and the disgusting way he has talked about the royal women.
I hope the protests over there are loud.
I hate this man so much.
Totally agree- I mean he stalked W&H’s mother, discussed Kate’s body and called Meghan names- these people should not have to meet them. But I guess that is the life of people in this job- Michelle Obama talked about having to do it while First Lady and it sounds terrible.
You just know Kate has been trying to get one of those kids to get the flu so she can stay home. This is the one time I would believe a Kate is jealous of Meghan story- no way she doesn’t wish she could stay home.
What?! He had something to say about Kate’s body?! Was this on twitter or a credible news source or more smut from the daily fail?
He tweeted about Kate when the topless photos came out in 2012. The tweets about her are still searchable.
@Celia- yeah when those balcony pictures came out he tweeted and I believe he said something on Howard Stern but I don’t know if I am confusing that with Diana but yeah he made horrible comments about Kate.
For those blaming the queen for this particular visit:
https://news.sky.com/story/five-controversial-state-visits-to-the-uk-10748635
This one is not that special. As I said above, it is world diplomacy.
Regarding Trump’s tweet about the mayor of London – has anyone asked Trump how many people have been shot in serial killings in the US over recent years. He really has no awareness
@Leena, Not only does Trump have “no awareness”, he really does not care how many people get shot or how they get shot.
High there BTB, glad we are agreeing today. 🙂
Trump cares only about Trump and nothing else, not even his own family.
He cares deeply for Princess Nagini. Obsessively, freakishly, disgustingly for his eldest daughter.
@notasugarhere, I agree he cares for Princess Nagini but I also believe he would throw Princess Nagini under the bus in a minute to save his own skin.
Perhaps. He’d throw everyone else first though, before finally casting her under the wheels.
He won’t throw Nagini under a bus if she throws him under first. And she would happily throw him under if threatened. She would toss Tom Riddle in a heartbeat and hold onto Daddy as long as possible but she would rat on Daddy to save herself. Her brothers would die for Daddy; she won’t get her hair mussed.
No D of E – age has its compensations! 😆
If I were in the U.K., I would take the day off just to protest! Trump has no common decency, and the insults he gave to Meghan, the London mayor and to the British people right before visiting demonstrate this.
I will be protesting tomorrow.
Bless you. Scream extra loud protests for all of us.
Me too, DU – see you there.
Digital Unicorn and Tina,
YOU GO GIRL for all of us!!!!
I wish I could protest with both of you. Can you send us updates on crowd size etc. oh and please let us know if you see the infamous orange Baby Blimp!!
Digital Unicorn and Tina,
Please post any updates or opinions you have on what is really going on during this Chump visit and the attitudes of the people of the UK you experience regarding the Chump visit.
I thank you in advance for all your efforts.
DU and Tina – you guys are amazing! Thank you for protesting! Supporting you from Arizona! 💪
If Boris Johnson wins PM I will return the favor during his state visit to the US.
Thank you!!!!
OMG, Nagini’s hat at Westminster looks like an eye mask on her head.
i was going with tampon, but i think yours is a more charitable description 😉
The hat is unflattering, but I can’t get figure out why her head looks so tiny. Must be those big sleeves b/c the hat’s not at all large.
No, your eyes aren’t fooling you, she really does have a tiny head. You can see in the Vatican photos very clearly too. *snicker*
The queen is smiling because she knows the Trump entourage is a boon for the British intelligence agencies. They’ll get a ton of intel out of this trip, because of course the kids are all there for more than just shopping.
Yep. They need to touch base with their partners in crimes.
I just saw a photo of Nagini and her little man boy husband looking over the crowd from a balcony.
That super creepy Mnuchin is there with them; but so far no sign of his gold digging wife .
jfc, he just can’t help himself, can he? He always has to get an insult in. What a miserable prick.
I find Ivanka’s since of entitlement frustrating. Why isn’t she treated like other members of the staff or her siblings! She irks me to know end. I can only hope that Kate snubs her at the State Dinner…She’s looking for a photo op so don’t give it to her Kate!!
She believes herself to be a benevolent princess and we should all be honored that she works so very hard spending our tax money on herself. Congress needs to audit her.
Yes.
from what i have read it looks like the Trump kids don’t get to sit by Kate and William but like random lower level royals.
Like by Princess Michael of Kent’s hairdresser…..or lower than that?
Why are they even there? There’s Skype. Let Nagini and orange turd Skype with the Queen if it’s so important. Save taxpayers’ money. Melania-Be-Best can shop online, and so on.
Nobody should be communicating with Nagini. Doing so legitimizes her position, which is a flagrant violation of federal ethics laws
Apparently Trump bringing his adult kids and their partners was a late addition to the whole programme, and l am sure that the banquet guest list had to be adjusted to accommodate them.
Trump wants his kids to network with the royals, he probably thinks he can create a kind of Kennedy dynasty. He clearly feels that his daughter is a smarter substitute for his wife.
Did anyone see the younger daughter anywhere?
I’m not here for you normalizing Mrs I Don’t Care she’s as much trash as he is 100 no one should ever be happy to see her ever
Even Camilla looks glum having to meet these people….
That might be why the Queen is smiling — she has to pretend for the rest of them.
Because I am evil, I checked the long term weather forecast for Normandy for Thursday’s commemoration of D-Day. I am pleased to report that it looks like rain. Will Trump skip the event, like he did last year’s WWI service? Perhaps he has learned to operate an umbrella?
https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/donald-trump-air-force-one-umbrella_n_5bd68898e4b055bc948d79a9
Just waiting for his speech at Normandy, who wants to bet that he’ll point out that there were equally good people on both sides of it!
Harry look like a hostage video.
It’s Will and Kate’s turn tonight but the White House announced Trump will have actual face time with them.
Am I the only one who never presses play if orange Voldemort’s in the vid? And I think the only way to receive refuse diplomatically is to have an itinerary which includes tours of city landfills and pet cemeteries.
I never have and never will press play to view Voldemort J. Chump.
On to the State Dinner. I hope Kate doesn’t grin cheek to cheek. I hope she watched TQ and Camilla today….don’t over smile just pleasant looks but make sure the Trump’s understand they are NOT ROYALTY….she should pretend Ivanka is Rose from Turnip Rose! William, should just do William…A-hole 2.0! Hopefully Harry doesn’t attend because the media is already stirring up controversy based on a 2 min appearance.
I so agree! Oh would someone please get this very urgent memo to them?
Ugh. These locusts from the White House!!
Will this nightmare never end?
Putting aside Trump’s boorish personality and lack of decorum, etc., can someone provide some insight on why his “adult” children are on this trip v.s. his 12 (13?) year old son?
I don’t recall any previous presidents bringing offspring along for the ride on major trips like this except for minors – like the Obamas, etc. It seems so “off”.
Grifting and PR – there is a trade meeting with the PM tomorrow with business leaders from the US. It will be interesting to see which industries these leaders come from as US pharma is salivating over getting their greedy hands on our NHS and to ruin our drug laws to allow them to sell their dodgy drugs at mega prices – I’ve read reports that as part of any deal they want our regulations loosened on several industries (pharma, farming etc..).
Definitely agriculture both arable and pastoral.
A trade deal with the USA will put the last nail in the coffin of the UK arable agricultural industry.
@Bay – yeah, the EU has already done a LOT of damage to the UK agriculture industry (i have a friend who’s father was a farmer and the CAP policy was the reason he voted to leave as the policy kills smaller/independent farms in favour of the larger corp ones).
Part of Ivanka’s Big Plan to be the president.
@DU, I was only making this statement because USA arable agriculture is very efficient and we have acres and acres (millions) of very farmable agriculture land not currently in cultivation.
It sounds like he’s meeting so many senior royals so that they can spread the burden. Lol.
Ken Doll is sat with Princess Anne and Sophie Wessex is sat next to Nagini. Can’t see Uday or Quasay. Katie Keen is sat with Munchin and William is with the PM.
The press over here have been commenting that he has so far been on his best behaviour (his twitter attack on the London Mayor aside) but are expecting that to change tomorrow when he meets the PM. They are saying he is intimated by the surroundings and being so close to the RF.
His speech wasn’t bad (a bit of a TQ lovefest) and he mentioned TQ’s time as a mechanic, both TQ and Cams looked like they were trying hard not to laugh.
Both Melania and Nagini are dressed in horrendous outfits.
Camilla’s microexpressions were giving me life. That plus her wink from earlier today made me love her even more than I already did. Trump’s speech was best behaviour from him, but he did call WWII a “crusade” (got to get that Islamophobia in there somewhere) which made me cringe. He also mispronounced a lot of words.
That wink was really great. I want to be friends with her, now more than ever.
Me too, I love her for real. Her work with FGM victims is quietly outstanding.
He is totally intimidated by the Sparkle of The Magical Kingdom. And how I hate to have to see Ivanka play princess, argh. And effing Mnuchin, hope he gets served old oysters.
could I have real names?
Ken Doll – Jared Kushner
Nagini – Ivanka
Usay & Uday – Eric & Don Jr
Katie Keen – Duchess Kate
TQ – The Queen
Lol – these crack me up!!! KenDoll – that’s perfect. What is the origin of Nagini and the Trump brothers’ monikers?
^ Another poster on here (LightPurple I think) came with that one for Ivanka (there is a whole long title that I forget LOL). Uday and Quasay were Saddam Hussein’s 2 sons (both dead) – I’ll leave you to google them if you want to know more about them and the horrific things they did.
Thank u Digital Unicorn! (I don’t want to google Saddam or anything about his progeny lest I damage my computer).
@Sabrina: Nagini was Voldemort’s pet snake.
Can anyone explain what Munchin is like? This is because someone said that the Palace was having a laugh by having him sit next to Kate. What can we read into that?
Watching Camilla’s face as Trump is speaking at the state dinner is EVERYTHING. Seriously. EVERYTHING. I could watch it on repeat for hours. It’s glorious.
So Ivanka didn’t walk in she was seated. Kate walker in with Munchin, I don’t get that one. Ivanka and Melinia are dressed terribly. Melania’s dress looks off the rack from Macys. Kudos to Kate for thinking of Rose, she passed the test! Trump looks exactly like the baby blimp! I’m becoming a Camilla fan after this visit……
Ah, was that Rose she shook hands with as she walked past? I thought that a bit rude as she cut in front of the person she was escorting along but I can see why it was done with the camera’s watching (am sure I will get jumped on for saying that).
I love Cams, her facial expressions always give me life.
I’ve just re-watched the walk in and Nagini & Ken Doll walked in with the rest of the party with their royal escorts.
And it looks like Kate waved at Rose thou from the angle it looked like she shook her hand but am not sure.
Where is this footage, please?
Here is the sky video and I stand corrected. I think the woman doing the quick handshaking was Rose, Kate was too far in front (their dresses are the same colour and both have their hair up which confused me the first few times I saw it). Am sure I saw Ken Doll and Nag in the walk in right at the back.
https://www.facebook.com/skynews/videos/317771279152086/?v=317771279152086
Here is a photo of the crotch goblins in the background acting like tourists:
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/06/03/20/14321920-7098297-US_President_Donald_Trump_dons_white_tie_as_he_stands_beside_Que-a-40_1559591115056.jpg
To add I should have gone to SpecSavers – hahaha
They look the same from the back.
@DU, I thought Woody Johnson was Philip May from the back, I feel your pain.
I have always like Camilla she’s fun and seems like a kind person. I am thrilled that Ivanka didn’t get to be with Kate or William you know she is mad haha.
I have only seen pictures of Kate in the car but I loved her earrings. (I haven’t seen Ivanka’s dress but totally agree that Melania’s is a horrific)
Who is Munchin?
Steve Mnuchin, US Treasury Secretary and husband to possibly the most embarrassing person ever produced by the UK, Louise Linton.
Mnuchin’s trophy wife is a raging narcissist, elitist, author of a totally fake autobiography, bad actress and general all-round smug bitch.
https://splinternews.com/everyone-in-dcs-elite-sucks-exactly-as-much-as-louise-l-1824252798
Why the F*&K did Mnuchin rank so high to walk in with Cathy Cambtridge?
I know who Steve Mnuchin is but I always thought of him as a very low-life organism. When you said Mnuchin, I thought you had nicked-named someone! LOL! LOL! Talk about one ‘”STONE COLD LOSER”!!!!!!!!
ETA: On second thought…What the hell is Mnuchin doing there?? He is just another hangar on like the Trump kids!!!!
BayTampaBay: My fault. I didn’t take the time to look up the correct spelling of that A-hole Mnuchin. I still don’t know why he walked with the Future Queen, English Rose, #theotherrose, aka Cathy Cambridge? so many American A-holes in one room… I really want to put that bubble over Camilla because I know that’s what she was thinking!! Did anyone see any photos of the other Trump Adult Children… Donnie Jr, Eric and Peggy??
To follow your comment BayTampaBay – & what the hell were they talking about as they marched in? Seriously how could they possibly sustain any semblance of a conversation all that time? Wish I could read lips.
Wow! So it was Rose she shook hands with….very deliberate PR….very KP orchestrated…well, well.
Just checked the video Kate did not shake hands with Rose. The woman she shook hands with was blonde, wearing a red dress.
Haha, Trump tweeting “tremendous crowds of well wishers”. In your dreams pal. The only people along the Mall were police and media.
Loved the way Camilla winked at the cameramen.
Rose who???
From Getty Images:
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/rose-hanbury-arrives-through-the-east-gallery-for-a-state-news-photo/1147875251
From Yahoo life:
Also present at the event was Rose Hanbury, Marchioness of Cholmondeley, who was previously seated next to Prince Harry at the Spanish State Banquet in 2017. She and her husband David, who holds the title the Lord Great Chamberlain, have a home near William and Kate in Norfolk.
BayTampaBay: William has the better Rose as his wife, IMO. Is she at all State Dinners? Explains why the future Queen looks unhappy at these events. A-hole William.
@Casey20, she kind of has to be at all of the state dinners. Her husband is the Lord Great Chamberlain, and she’s accompanying him. I don’t think William is the a-hole in this instance, although he is an a-hole in general.
Hmmm.
Rose Hanbury looks great in that dress.
I don’t like the dress Kate is wearing for this shit-show.
These Trump hangers-on are so disgusting. The kids are bad enough, but KellyAnn, and Sarah Suckabee, Steve Miller? Gross.
The Queen knew she was going to be monarch because even if her Uncle became King, she would be third in line. No way was Wallis Simpson going to have a baby.
Thank you for posting this picture of Rose. The first new picture we have seen of Rose since the ‘story ‘ broke. I think her dress is fabulous.
Thanks for the photo – so she wasn’t in the walkin like I thought. So who was the rude person who shook hands with a blonde woman in a red dress? It wasn’t Kate.
Here’s another reason Camilla had a bubble over her head that states: ..room full of American A-holes…TQ apparently showed Ole Bone Spurs the gift he gave her last year. When asked if he recognized the gift, Ole Bone Spurs said NO…..
I’m not holding the Queen responsible for being a good host to Trump. That’s her job and she takes pride in her job. She’s met worse than Trump and kept a pleasant demeanour.
I’m going to blame the American people for electing this piece of shit and foisting him on the world. The British people are going to be out in the streets of London tomorrow showing how decent people respond to a racist criminal dictator. When was the last time Americans took to the streets to protest ANYTHING this man has done? There’s a lot of complaining and a lot of ‘but I DIDN’T vote for him’ but what are Americans really doing?’ Twelve more people were gunned down last week but have Americans REALLY done anything to bring about gun control?
In the post about President Obama there was a lot of talk about how much everyone loves him. But the American people let the President down badly when the bodies of TWENTY babies were taken out of a killing field and Americans did nothing. How many times did President Obama weep over the corpses of his fellow citizens? Children are being kept in cages RIGHT NOW and Americans are doing nothing.
So before people start blaming a 93 year old lady for doing her job, no matter how unpleasant it is, do something to rid the world of this blight. And his damn family too!
Thank you for your voice of reason amidst a chorus of gibberish.
I don’t know if I’m the voice of reason. I look at the world and I feel sick. I used to be a CNN junkie and now I can’t bear to watch it. I’ve even given up watching my boo Chris Cuomo because I just can’t stand to hear the constant stream of ‘Guess what Trump did today?’ with nothing EVER being done.
It makes me sick to see Queen Elizabeth, who has been my Queen for my entire life, forced to smile and play nice with that monster, his ‘model’ wife and the rest of the grifter scum that is his entourage. I don’t know if the Queen agrees with Donald Trump or shares his world view. But what I DO know is that a large number of Americans agree with him.
I remember when Canadians took in Americans who were stranded after 9/11. There’s even a musical about it. Ten out of 12 of those terrorists were Saudi. Today, the President of the United States kisses Saudi Arabia’s ass and insults Canada whenever he can.
I have no doubt that every British person who was at that state dinner went home and took a long, hot shower. And then poured a stiff drink and read those vulgar disgusting Americans for filth in a way that only the British upper class can. They were pretty nasty about Katie Keen’s family so you KNOW they had a good time with the ugly Americans. Because those upper class nobs know that they will still be there, long after Trump and his co-conspirators are either in prison or living in exile somewhere with no extradition to the United States.
Very well said. Someone who gets what it is all about.
That’s a bit reductive.
In the US there are quite a few protests. But there are still a number of reasons why the US protests less.
First off, our police murder people with impunity and use tear gas and water cannons. There is no real concept of protestors’ rights here, and taking part in one will, in many cases, make you lose your job, suffer a fine, separate your family, or other outcomes. Not always, but you run that risk.
Furthermore, this is the symptom of similar xenophobic feelings that caused the Brexit vote. It happens over the world.
May and Trump are cut from the same cloth. People were not protesting when she became prime minister, no? I could be wrong, but I don’t remember that they were. I lived in the UK when she was Home Secretary, I remember her track record.
Are you protesting the fact that Justin Trudeau supports the same interventionist policies which create chaos and refugees in places like Syria in the first place? That his attachment to oil pipelines are disastrous for the indigenous people he claims to care for and that he has no interest in combating climate change and agrees with Trump on these matters?
Hell, I love the Queen to death but she has done her own problematic things, like asking for the government to take money from a poverty fund to pay for the heating bills in her palaces, what she has done to cover up her son’s activities, inviting rulers known for human rights abuses in their countries to her own special Diamond Jubilee lunch (not a state event from what I can tell), the Kamloops scandal (God knows what the truth is about that)…it goes on.
Unfortunately these things are interconnected.
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/08/21/is-there-any-point-to-protesting
I think this is called ‘whataboutism’.
Writing about these things and then linking an informative article about how best to combat them is not “whataboutism”. It is stating that these viewpoints and political positions are shared by many of the world’s elite and that the problem has manifested itself in places including where you mentioned and in other countries too.
You brought up a number of different things, I addressed them.
But if we want to go that route, I could argue your post about why Americans aren’t sufficiently manifesting their hatred for these issues because you don’t see them out all the time (although protests do happen here more than you seem to think) is a red herring, not an argument.
Capitalism is the problem, not lack of protests to change government actions when the government itself is violent and corrupt and cannot be reformed.
That line about Peggy Noonan killed me, I can’t stop cackling.