We love Donald Trump: U.S. president's UK fans look forward to visit, denounce protests

[July 06, 2018]  By Alex Fraser

LONDON (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of protesters are expected to turn out against Donald Trump when he visits Britain next week but some believe the protests are an embarrassment and that the U.S. president deserves a warm welcome.

Trump will arrive in Britain on July 12 for a "working visit", a more sober affair than the original plan for a state visit with its customary pomp and pageantry after it drew threats of mass protests. But anti-Trump demonstrators are still planning to show up, to the dismay - and glee - of his UK supporters.

"He's coming into the lion's den and it is going to be really fun to watch," said Londoner Jack Smith, 28, at a party to celebrate U.S. independence from Britain on July 4.

"I'm looking forward to the protest quite frankly, who isn't? It's going to be really fun seeing all of these liberals whose world view was shattered back when he was elected in November 2016."

London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who has had a number of social media spats with the president, on Thursday gave permission for a blimp portraying Donald Trump as an orange, snarling baby to be flown over parliament.

"He's here to do more important things than worry about some protesters. I think it is very embarrassing, embarrassing for the protesters," said 21-year-old U.S. student Drew Liquerman who is studying at Scotland's St Andrews University.

"Trump has gone to France, Japan, all across the Middle East. He has been welcomed like no U.S President before."

Prime Minister Theresa May invited Trump for a state visit when she was the first foreign leader to visit him after his inauguration in January 2017, a decision many British lawmakers said was wrong and sparked protests across Britain.

STRONG BOND

At the July 4th party near the U.S. embassy in central London celebrating revelers made banners reading "Trump 2020" and "Welcome Mr President, the UK loves you".

Erika Miller, 36, who has dual British-U.S. citizenship after marrying a Briton, said the protests would have no impact on relations between the two countries.

"In terms of the special relationship - there is a strong bond from history, language, shared western values that is going to continue regardless of the protesters here or in the United States," she said.

President Donald Trump departs after speaking at a Make America Great Again rally in Great Falls, Montana, U.S., July 5, 2018. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

Malin Baker Bogue, 28, who works in government relations and moved to Britain from the United States in 2015, said she was not a fan of Trump despite being a Republican but was still surprised by the anger he provoked.

"I do find it curious the amount of opprobrium and time that protesters dedicate to the freely elected leader of a free country, that they don't direct towards the visit of somebody like the president of China," she said.

Those sentiments were echoed by Sarah Elliott, 36, chairman of Republicans Overseas UK.

"We always stand side by side with each other and is this the way you welcome a good friend?" she said.

"I don't think so but people are free to do so it is a free country. I think the special relationship will always endure because of our history, our shared values. The challenges we face in the world are the same."

If the U.S president wants to visit a traditional London pub during his visit then he will be assured of a warm welcome in one hostelry.

The Jameson in Hammersmith, southwest London, is changing its name to The Trump Arms to mark the trip and is hosting a welcome party in his honor.

"There are many Trump supporters around here who will be happy to see it," landlord Damien Smyth, whose wife is from New York, told the Evening Standard newspaper.

(Reporting by Alex Fraser; Writing by Michael Holden; Editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Raissa Kasolowsky)

[© 2018 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2018 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.