UK pushes for second state visit to 'royal-loving' Trump

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is expected to become the first elected politician to make two state visits to the U.K. in modern history.

The British Telegraph reported on the 27th local time that the British Prime Minister's Office and the Foreign Office are considering proposing a state visit as soon as Trump's term begins.

He also analyzed that Britain's push for a second state visit is Prime Minister Keir Starmer's strategy to diplomatically utilize Trump's fondness for the royal family.

Trump made a state visit to the UK with Melania and her children in June 2019, during his first term, and since then, he has often talked about what happened at the time, expressing friendly feelings toward the royal family.

He bragged about the photos he took during his state visit by making a separate photo album, and he also described Charles III, the crown prince at the time, as a "really good person."

When Prime Minister Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy visited Trump Tower in New York to dinner together in September to build friendly relations with Trump, Trump reportedly talked about it during his state visit.

At the recent reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, he met with Prince William for about 30 minutes and talked for him, saying he was "very good-looking" or "better in person."

The Telegraph said some in the UK Foreign Office view Prince William as a "secret weapon" to improve relations between the two countries.

However, the exact timing and location of the invitation have yet to be discussed, according to the sources.

Considering Charles III's schedule, the timing of the state visit is not expected to be possible until 2026 at the earliest.

The Telegraph predicts that his second state visit could be a political challenge for Mr. Starmer, as the majority of Britons are unfavorable to Mr. Trump.

Official royal records since 1954 indicate that no elected leader has made two state visits to Britain.

Relations with Trump need to be improved because the center-left Labor Cabinet led by Prime Minister Starmer is not considered to be on good terms with Trump.

Trump is known to be close to former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is considered Starmer's political opponent.

On the other hand, many of Starmer's cabinet ministers have a history of criticizing Trump in the past, and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Trump's "best friend," also has a bad feeling with Starmer's cabinet.

Because of this, Mr. Starmer has made improving relations with Mr. Trump a top priority.

As the first invitation to visit the state was made through then Prime Minister Theresa May a few days after entering the White House, the possibility is expected to be made in the same way this time.

This is how Prime Minister Starmer meets with him and invites him as soon as possible after Trump enters the White House.

According to records, only Denmark's Queen Margrethe II and Norway's King Olaf V made two state visits.

State visits take months to prepare and require more formalities, so not all foreign leaders and British royal family meetings are classified as state visits.