Donald Trump state visit: thousands say they will attend London protest against US president's trip to UK

Thousands of people have said they will attend a protest in London to coincide with Donald Trump’s three-day state visit to the UK in June this year.

Buckingham Palace confirmed on Wednesday that the US president and First Lady Melania will arrive on June 3 as guests of the Queen and will meet the Prime Minister for bilateral talks.

Announcing the visit, Buckingham Palace said: “The President of the United States, President Donald Trump, accompanied by Mrs Melania Trump, has accepted an invitation from Her Majesty The Queen to pay a state visit to the United Kingdom.”

Just 24 hours later, more than 5,000 people have said they will attend a “Together against Trump” protest in London on June 4.

Writing on the Facebook event, which more than 27,000 people have said they are interested in, the organisers said: “In early June, Donald Trump is planning to come to the UK.

“This time, it will be for a full state visit - with processions down the Mall in a golden carriage. But there won’t be any cheering crowds.

“Last year, a quarter of a million mobilised to say no to Trump’s politics of hate and division.

"This time, we will take to the streets in even bigger numbers - to fight for migrant and refugee rights, for women’s rights, against the corporate elites and for the future of our planet.

“This demonstration isn't just about Trump as one man. He is a symbol of the new far right, a politics of Islamophobia and anti-semitism, of war and conflict, and walls and fences that are growing around the world.”

Organised by the Stop Trump Coalition and Stand Up to Trump, the page added: “The British elite also has a disgraceful record of racism and bigotry, and on failing to tackle climate chaos.

“This is when we take stand together against our own ‘hostile environment’ as well as that of the American government.”

After the visit was announced on Wednesday, Prime Minister Theresa May said the UK and US have a “deep and enduring partnership” and have “shared interests”.

She said: “We do more together than any two nations in the world and we are both safer and more prosperous because of our cooperation.

“The state visit is an opportunity to strengthen our close relationship in areas such as trade, investment, security and defence, and to discuss how we can build on these ties in the years ahead.”

A White House spokesman added: “This state visit will reaffirm the steadfast and special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom.”

During his visit in June, he will attend an event in Portsmouth to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day which will include military displays and tributes to the allied troops who fought in Normandy in the Second World War.

After the three-day visit to the UK, Mr Trump and his wife will then travel to Normandy on June 6 to meet French president Emmanuel Macron.

In 2017, Mrs May offered the president a state visit to Britain and drew criticism she was handing out the prestigious offer so early into his tenure.