Donald Trump’s state visit to Britain should be shelved in the wake of his astonishing White House tirade against President Zelensky, a series of prominent public figures declared last night.
The extraordinary shouting match – when President Trump and Vice-President JD Vance ganged up against Ukraine’s leader to accuse him of ‘gambling with World War Three’ – came just hours after Sir Keir Starmer invited Mr Trump for an unprecedented second ceremonial visit to the UK on behalf of King Charles.
Politicians and military leaders called for the arrangements to be put on hold until Mr Trump has made assurances about Ukraine’s security in the face of Russia’s aggression, with royal experts warning that a visit now risked embarrassing the monarch.
However, a source close to the President last night warned it would be ‘very unwise’ for the UK to rescind the invitation. The calls came as:
Charles prepared to roll out the red carpet for Mr Zelensky at Sandringham today.
The Prime Minister greeted Mr Zelensky with a hug in Downing Street yesterday – to cheers from the watching public – and promised him that he has Britain’s ‘full backing’.
The fury comes as:
- Sir Keir prepares to host leaders from France, Germany, Italy and other nations at a crisis summit at Lancaster House in London today;
- Mr Zelensky tried to heal the rift by thanking Mr Trump for his ‘support’ yesterday, but adding pointedly: ‘We are the ones living this war in Ukraine. It’s a fight for our freedom, for our very survival’;
- Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, a Trump ally, joined the criticism of the President, saying: ‘The spat in the White House is regrettable and will make Putin feel like the winner… A peace deal is essential and Ukraine needs the right security guarantees.’
US President Donald Trump (R) is greeted by Prince Charles, Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace on June 3, 2019 in London
Sir Keir Starmer meets President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine at Number 10 Downing Street on March 1 2025
The King, who first met Mr Zelensky in 2023 at Buckingham Palace, has previously expressed his support for Ukraine, saying the country had experienced ‘indescribable aggression’ following Russia’s ‘unprovoked attack’.
During the clash in the Oval Office, the US President was accused of acting like a bully when he told his Ukrainian counterpart to accept a deal with Russia ‘or we are out’.
Mr Trump told Mr Zelensky he had not been grateful enough for US support, before ordering him to leave the White House.
After Mr Trump was handed the state visit invitaton on Thursday, he said it would be an ‘honour’, adding that Charles was a ‘beautiful man, a wonderful man’.
But shadow home affairs minister Alicia Kearns last night said: ‘State visits should be conferred to the most honourable of allies, not to curry favour.
‘No state visit should proceed until the steadfastness of the US’s commitment to her allies is assured. His Majesty should not have to carry the weight of Keir’s diplomatic failings.’
She called the Oval Office clash a ‘degrading spectacle’ and ‘performative bullying for a US audience’ by Mr Trump, adding: ‘Zelensky is fighting for the survival of his people: an innocent people being murdered by, a barbaric imperialist and dictator.’
However the Trump source said recalling the invitation would be ‘very unwise unless the UK wants to undo all the goodwill generated by the Prime Minister’s trip’.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer meets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at Downing Street in London
Britain’s Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer and Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky shake hands during a bilateral meeting at 10 Downing Street
They added: ‘The best path forward would be for Sir Keir to persuade President Zelensky to apologise to President Trump and the American people.
‘President Trump thinks King Charles is a wonderful man and is very much looking forward to seeing him and other senior members of the Royal Family when he makes his historic trip.’
During the visit, Mr Trump is expected to be invited to address both Houses of Parliament – an honour he was denied on his previous trip in 2019. But last night one MP predicted a ‘sea of empty seats’ in protest.
No date has yet been set for the state visit and many sources said it should be put off until the UK and US saw eye-to-eye on Ukraine.
Former Defence Minister Tobias Ellwood, a joint British-American national, said: ‘It would be inappropriate to place the King in the position of hosting the President if US foreign policy shifts away from its long-standing support for Ukraine and toward alignment with Russia’s security objectives.’
Dickie Arbiter, who was a spokesman for the late Queen, said: ‘It’s difficult to rescind an invitation to an alleged ally of Britain. I feel the only option is to stall until such time the Government feels is right.’
Ex-MI6 head Richard Dearlove, agreed: ‘They don’t have to arrange the state visit straight away. They have got to let the dust settle.
‘If Trump is that enamoured of the royal family… there is opportunity to try to rebuild bridges.’
Speaking inside Number 10, the Prime Minister firmly reassured the Ukrainian president: ‘Let me just say that you’re very, very welcome here in Downing Street’
The Ukrainian President’s furious bust-up with the US President has sent diplomatic ripples across the world
Former Tory leader Michael Howard said it would be ‘extraordinarily difficult’ for the King given Mr Trump and Mr Vance’s ‘disgraceful’ behaviour, but added: ‘Sometimes we have to do things we don’t like to try to gain things for our country.
‘We’ve got to see if we can moderate the behaviour of this dreadful administration. [The state visit] may be one of the ways we can exert a smidgen of influence.’
Labour peer George Foulkes said the visit should be postponed after Mr Trump’s ‘outrageous behaviour’, adding: ‘The diplomatic thing would be for the King to find himself busy for the next few months.’
Former Army commander Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, said: ‘The insensitive, cowardly and arrogant approach of Trump and Vance and their apparent appeasement of Putin is a huge concern.
‘I am sure the King will not want to entertain [Trump] who currently appears to be on the side of evil rather than good.’
But constitutional expert Sir Vernon Bogdanor, said: ‘The meeting should go ahead. It would be an unprecedented snub to cancel it and would damage our interests.’
Last night No10 insisted the state visit would go ahead saying: ‘The only serious route to a secure, sovereign Ukraine is for all allies across the US and Europe to come together in action, not words.’
