"Peter Mandelson was unceremoniously sacked as the UK's ambassador to Washington on Thursday after emails were published in which he had urged his friend Jeffrey Epstein to fight for early release from prison in 2008. For Trump, whose own friendship with Epstein has exposed him to damaging scrutiny, including from his own support base, there is no subject he wants to revisit less."
"First and foremost, he wants that element of imagery. There will be no shortage of the pomp and circumstance that Trump loves over his two-day visit. He and his wife, Melania, will be greeted with a ceremonial welcome and a guard of honour at Windsor Castle, where they will be hosted by King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William and Catherine, the Princess of Wales."
"Trump will address a state banquet with tech bosses and senior cabinet ministers on Wednesday evening before travelling to Chequers on Thursday for a business reception, working lunch and press conference with the prime minister. There will be military displays including a Red Arrows flypast, and fanfare over investment deals, including a US-UK technology partnership and civil nuclear agreement. British armed forces rehearse at Wellington barracks in London on Friday."
Donald Trump prioritizes avoiding distractions during his second state visit to the UK, but a political crisis around Peter Mandelson's sacking threatens to overshadow proceedings. Mandelson was dismissed after emails showed he urged Jeffrey Epstein to seek early release in 2008. Trump's past friendship with Epstein increases sensitivity and risk of damaging scrutiny. Both sides will want to move on from Mandelson's departure, and Trump's focus will be on presidential optics, emphasizing meetings with the king and the monarchy. The two-day visit will feature ceremonial welcomes, a state banquet, a Chequers working lunch with the prime minister, military displays, and investment-focused events including tech and nuclear agreements.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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