UK to Donald Trump: You’re Not Welcome Here
In a historically unprecedented move, the UK is debating the rejection of a state visit by Donald Trump. The video above shows the moment when a vote was cast in Westminster Hall, with a resounding “NO!”
Get ready for the 5 am rage-tweets from our Narcissist in Chief.
(h/t: @Zegota42.)
Contrary to original reports, the Guardian now reports that the debate concluded without rejecting the state visit — but it’s quite clear that Trump is not popular in the United Kingdom.
MPs debate refusing Donald Trump a state visit to Britain
Sir Alan Duncan, the deputy foreign secretary, has reaffirmed the government’s intention to host President Trump on a state visit at the end of a three-hour debate that saw MPs denounce him as unworthy of the honour. The debate, which took place in Westminster Hall, was prompted by the petition signed by 1.8m people saying Trump should be denied a state visit and it was opened by the Labour MP Paul Flynn who, in a wide-ranging attack, described Trump’s intellect as “protozoan”. (See 4.42pm.) MPs divided almost entirely along party lines, with Conservative MPs defending the decision to invite Trump (if not defending his policies), but opposition MPs criticising Trump much more aggressively, and arguing that the honour of a state visit was unmerited. But, wrapping up for government, Duncan said that state visits were the government’s “most important diplomatic tool” and he made it clear that the government expected the invitation to boost Britain’s diplomatic interests.