British Twitter reacts to Donald Trump backing out of London visit
President’s excuse for cancelling embassy trip met with mockery online
President Donald Trump’s cancellation of a planned visit to the UK next month to open the new US embassy isn’t breaking too many hearts on British Twitter.
In fact, many of Trump’s UK detractors - including Labour MP David Lammy - rejoiced to learn that the controversial commander-in-chief would no longer be on ribbon-cutting duty in London next month:
Although those who had been eagerly anticipating the planned mass demonstrations outside the new embassy were a tad disappointed:
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Other tweeters helpfully suggested other destinations for the President not to visit:
And one user had an idea for an alternative trip:
Trump’s stated reason for the cancellation was his dissatisfaction with Barack Obama’s sale of the former embassy site (a deal which, as many commenters pointed out, was actually struck in 2008 during the Bush administration).
The logic struck many as thoroughly unconvincing:
Prompting Twitter users to share their own tongue-in-cheek excuses for giving their own planned excursions a miss:
The new embassy, a high-security fortress in Battersea which cost an estimated $1bn, will now be opened by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.
But just in case any Brits were actually looking forward to seeing Trump at the US embassy, waxwork museum Madame Tussauds transported their model of the president across town to provide the next best thing:
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Why au pairs might become a thing of the past
Under The Radar Brexit and wage ruling are threatening the 'mutually beneficial arrangement'
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
'A direct, protracted war with Israel is not something Iran is equipped to fight'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - April 17, 2024
Cartoons Wednesday's cartoons - political anxiety, jury sorting hat, and more
By The Week US Published
-
'A direct, protracted war with Israel is not something Iran is equipped to fight'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
'Good riddance to the televised presidential debate'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Trump's first criminal trial starts with jury picks
Speed Read The former president faces charges related to hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Why are Republicans trying to change Nebraska's Electoral College vote?
Today's Big Question It's a chance for Donald Trump to block Joe Biden's path to re-election
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
House GOP scuttles FISA vote at Trump's urging
Speed Read Right-wing lawmakers blocked Speaker Mike Johnson's surveillance bill
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
To win the election, Trump is changing how elections are run
Under The Radar While the former president campaigns for a second term in office, he and his team have quietly been working to tilt the nation's electoral rules in his favor.
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'What a difference a judge makes'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
'For employers and their workers, welcome to a minefield'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published