Good morning from Chequers. If you found yesterday’s grand display a bit excessive, day two of Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK might suit you better.
Today’s agenda includes some formalities like a nice lunch for Trump, a visit to the Churchill archives at Chequers, and a performance by the Red Devils aerobatic team. The main focus will be on discussions with Keir Starmer regarding trade, Ukraine, and potentially the Middle East.
Later in the day, a joint press conference is scheduled, where we hope for a smooth and planned event without any unexpected developments.
In other news related to Trump, his makeup faux pas during a photo session with the royal family raised eyebrows. His off-script remarks at the state banquet, including political jabs, stirred controversy, especially as they seemed to touch on UK-specific issues. The President’s address at the lavish state dinner also drew attention for veering off prepared remarks to boast about the country’s current success.
Meanwhile, late-night host Jimmy Kimmel faced backlash for his jokes about Trump’s handling of recent events. This led to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr suggesting repercussions for networks airing Kimmel’s show, which ultimately resulted in some affiliates dropping the program.
Amidst the ongoing events, Nigel Farage’s absence from the State Banquet sparked disappointment, with some voicing discontent on his behalf. Additionally, Kash Patel’s choice of wearing a Liverpool FC tie to a congressional hearing raised some eyebrows, hinting at his sports allegiance.
As Trump made headlines with his announcement on Antifa, designating it as a terrorist organization, questions arose regarding the practicality of such a move given the group’s decentralized nature. The administration’s stance on speech and media also came into focus with the actions against Kimmel’s show.
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