Yahoo News US Embassy warns Americans in the UK to ‘keep a low profile’ during Donald Trump visit over violence fears
Americans in the UK have been warned to lie low during Donald Trump’s visit over fears that protests in the capital could turn violent.
Issuing a demonstration alert ahead of the presidential trip, the US Embassy in London urged people to keep a low profile as protests span three days.
Gatherings and rallies are planned across the UK from Thursday, when Trump is expected to touch down in Britain.
The embassy warned people to be aware of their surroundings and to ‘exercise caution if unexpectedly in the vicinity of large gatherings that may become violent’.
Adding a further layer of controversy to the much-maligned visit, the President has left the door open to a possible meeting with former foreign secretary Boris Johnson, the US ambassador confirmed today.
Woody Johnson said that while a meeting was not currently on Mr Trump’s itinerary “the President makes his own schedule”.
A meeting between Mr Trump and Mr Johnson would likely prove embarrassing for the Prime Minister as she attempts to assert control over the warring Conservative Party.
Woody Johnson was asked on BBC Radio 4’s Today whether he would facilitate a meeting if asked. He replied: “Yes. We will make everything possible – if the President wants to do something we will make it possible.
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“Boris Johnson has been a friend of the President, was a friend during the election of the President so I think he has a warm and close relationship with him.”
Demonstrations during the President’s visit include one on Thursday near Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire where Mr Trump will attend a black-tie dinner, and another not far from the US ambassador’s residence in Regent’s Park, where Trump and his wife Melania will stay overnight.
Gatherings are also due to take place elsewhere in the UK in cities including Bristol, Newcastle, Leeds, Cambridge and Cardiff on Thursday evening.
A large baby blimp caricature of Trump is set to be flown at Parliament Square on Friday morning, ahead of a series of further gatherings including an anti-Trump and anti-Tory 12-hour ‘DJ marathon party’ in Soho, and a march at Cavendish Square Gardens by the Friends of Al Aqsa and Muslim Association of Britain on Friday afternoon.
As Trump enjoys a working lunch with Theresa May at her country residence Chequers, demonstrators have been encouraged to bring a ‘suitably pithy placard’ to a child-friendly protest near the Buckinghamshire property.
Busloads of protesters will come from across the UK to London for an early-evening rally at Trafalgar Square on Friday, organisers from umbrella group Together Against Trump said.
With Trump set to travel to Scotland on Friday evening after meeting the Queen at Windsor Castle, a rally is planned for Glasgow’s George Square.
While no plans for Trump to enjoy a round of golf have been confirmed, a protest will be held outside the president’s Balmedie course in Aberdeenshire on Saturday, and it is expected there could be demonstrations around his Turnberry resort too.
A national demonstration is planned at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh on Saturday, as well as a ‘Carnival of Resistance’ in the Meadows area of the capital.
In its alert the embassy said: ‘The majority of the demonstrations will be focused in central London on July 13, with other events planned for July 12 and 14.
‘Several of the events are expected to attract large crowds and there will be road closures in connection with those events.’
