Trump’s UK Visit: The Public Reaction

After months of would-he, wouldn’t-he speculation, US President Donald Trump finally landed in Britain on Thursday afternoon.

The controversial President touched down at Stansted Airport at 1.50pm, days after describing Britain as being in ‘turmoil’ over Brexit.

A survey carried out by Atomik Research shows fury at Trump’s visit is highest among Millennials, with 65% of 25-34-year-olds in the UK saying he should have been banned and more than half (55%) backing protest plans against his visit.

Trump’s ability to divide the world was again evident in the survey carried out by Atomik Research.

Forty-three per cent of Brits surveyed said Trump should be banned from visiting the UK – but 44% think he should not be barred from entry.

Those against his arrival say their main reasons are the President’s attitude towards women (64%), followed by his policy of splitting up children from their parents at the Mexican border (61%) and his refusal to back stricter gun controls (51%).

Nearly two-thirds (62%) of those who did not agree with a ban said Britain should always welcome the leader of the Free World and 58% felt a ban would go against the principle of Free Speech.

Millennials were by far the age group most in favour of a ban, with 52% of 35-44s backing a Trump ban, 39% of 18-24-year-olds, 29% of those aged 45-54, one third (33%) of 55-64-year-olds and 34% of over-65s.

Adults in London are overwhelmingly in support of shunning Trump, with 65% in favour of a ban.

Londoners are also the most in favour of protests against the President’s visit, with 53% backing demo plans.

But the so-called ‘Special Relationship’ between Britain and the US looks to be a thing of the past, with fewer than half (44%) of adults in Britain believing the special bond is still there.

Adults in Scotland are the most likely to believe that there is no longer any such thing as a special relationship.

Brits are more likely to believe that Brexit will bring Britain and the US closer together, with 33% saying the trans-Atlantic relationship will be stronger after next March’s seismic political shift.

But 14% believe it will drive Britain and the US further apart and 32% thinking it will have no impact at all.

One of the more contentious issues around Trump’s visit is the plan to float a giant inflatable of the President above Westminster depicting him as a nappy-wearing baby.

Thirty-seven per cent of Brits surveyed back the plan for the giant balloon, but more people were against the idea, with 47% saying they thought it was a bad idea.

And yet again Millennials aged 25-34 were most in favour of the stunt, with 61% saying they were in favour.

Other political figures the British public want to see depicted as inflatable cartoon versions of themselves include Boris Johnson (29%), Theresa May (24%), Jeremy Corbyn (17%) and Sadiq Khan (11%).