May rolls out Churchill’s birthplace for Trump visit

British Prime Minister Theresa May invoked wartime leader Winston Churchill as she hosts Donald Trump.

Melania and Donald Trump are welcomed by Theresa and Philip May to Blenheim Palace for dinner on Thursday. Picture: Reuters

British Prime Minister Theresa May invoked wartime leader Winston Churchill and strong transatlantic ties as she hosted Donald Trump yesterday — hours after he began a protest-laden visit by questioning her Brexit strategy.

Welcoming the US President and first lady Melania Trump on Thursday to a black-tie dinner with business leaders at Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Churchill, Mrs May said the two countries’ “most special of relationships has a long and proud history”.

“Mr President, Sir Winston Churchill once said that ‘to have the United States at our side was, to me, the greatest joy’,’’ she said.

“Now, for the benefit of all our people, let us work together to build a more prosperous future,” she added after calling for a free-trade agreement with the US after Britain leaves the EU next March.

Churchill has been cited by Mr Trump as a model of leadership.

It was an oasis of warm greetings in Blenheim. The outdoor ­arrival ceremony — Mr Trump wore a tuxedo and Mrs Trump a butter-yellow, chiffon off-the-shoulder gown — was a grand ­affair marked by the bands of the Scots, Irish and Welsh Guards playing in his honour, hundreds of business leaders in black tie and gorgeous setting sunlight.

Donald Trump leads Theresa May into dinner. Picture: AP

However, the convention-shredding President had ignored diplomatic niceties ahead of touching down for the four-day visit — his first to Britain since taking power — by rebuking his host as she struggles over Brexit. At a press conference in Brussels following a NATO summit just ­before flying to London, he cast doubt on whether Mrs May would deliver on British voters’ intentions when they backed leaving the EU in a 2016 referendum.

“The people voted to break it up,” he said. “So I would imagine that’s what they will do, but maybe they will take a little bit of a different route. I don’t know (if) that is what they voted for.’’

Britain's Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt and his wife Lucia at Blenheim Palace. Picture: AFP

Mr Trump’s staff have opted to keep the President largely out of central London. More than 60,000 people are signed up to demonstrate in London and plan to fly a large balloon portraying Mr Trump as an orange, snarling baby over parliament.

Mr Trump’s Marine One helicopter departure from the ambassador’s residence, Winfield House, was met by jeers from demonstrators banging pots and pans, and another pack of protesters lined roads near the palace. Their signs read: “Dump Trump”, “Lock Him Up”, “There Will Be Hell Toupee”. Police worked overtime, their days off cancelled. He landed at Stansted Airport on Thursday afternoon and was whisked by helicopter to Winfield House. At a garden party, the Beatles’ We can work it out played.

AFP, AP