Daily lens Report
Thousands of protesters took to the streets of central London on Wednesday to oppose US President Donald Trump’s second state visit to the United Kingdom, an event marked by heavy police presence and high-profile political voices.
Organised by the Stop Trump Coalition, the demonstration drew around 5,000 people, according to Metropolitan Police estimates. Marchers carried placards, chanted slogans, and rallied in Parliament Square, with speeches from comedian Nish Kumar, podcaster Coco Khan, Green Party leader Zack Polanski, former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, and environmentalist George Monbiot.
Many demonstrators voiced opposition to Trump’s foreign policies and domestic record. “He’s sowing destruction and disorder throughout the whole Earth,” said Dave Lockett, a 67-year-old retired teacher. Others highlighted issues such as Palestine, with placards calling for an end to genocide.
The protest coincided with Trump’s red-carpet reception at Windsor Castle, where he attended a military ceremony alongside King Charles III. Organisers mocked the president for largely avoiding London during his visit, suggesting he sought to dodge mass opposition.
More than 1,600 police officers — including 500 drafted from outside forces — were deployed to oversee the rally, following weekend unrest at a far-right gathering led by activist Tommy Robinson, which left 26 officers injured.
Protests against Trump in the UK have a long history. During his 2019 state visit, demonstrators famously floated a giant “Trump baby blimp” over the capital, with then-Mayor Sadiq Khan approving its flight. Khan has remained one of Trump’s fiercest critics, writing in The Guardian this week that the US president “has done the most to fan the flames of divisive, far-right politics around the world.”
Despite the overwhelming opposition, a lone counter-protester waving a “We Love Trump” sign made a brief appearance, drawing boos from the crowd.
