UK Deploys Huge Security for Trump's Visit

A massive security operation began on Tuesday as US President Donald Trump travelled to the UK for a state visit, marking one of the most enormous policing efforts in Britain in years.

Trump and his spouse, Melania, were expected to arrive north of London aboard Air Force One on Tuesday evening, before proceeding to Windsor Castle on Wednesday for an audience with King Charles III and other members of the royal family.

Authorities in Windsor, located about 20 miles (32 kilometres) west of London, were prepared to react to possible incidents deemed to have a “very high threat level,” as anti-Trump demonstrations were scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday in both Windsor and London.

UK Deploys Huge Security for Trump's Visit — UK Deploys Huge Security for Trump’s Visit. Credit: ABC7

While security protocols are typically heightened during meticulously planned state visits, Trump’s arrival comes shortly after the fatal shooting of his far-right associate, Charlie Kirk, at a university in Utah, which has raised concerns about political violence in the United States.

Trump himself faced two assassination attempts during his presidential campaign for the 2024 election. The US Secret Service, which has been working closely with the UK’s domestic intelligence agency MI5 and local police forces, will be permitted to carry firearms while in the UK, as reported by the BBC.

In a departure from earlier royal events, steel barricades have been erected to obstruct public views and access to the Long Walk avenue leading to Windsor Castle, where Trump is scheduled to stay on Wednesday evening.

Some British media outlets noted that this was the UK’s largest security operation since the king’s coronation in 2023.

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