Former President Donald Trump’s state visit to the United Kingdom on Wednesday drew a diverse crowd outside Windsor Castle, where both supporters and detractors gathered to express their views. What the event ultimately illustrated was Trump’s incredible ability to attract a very, very wide audience. Even the freaks and weirdos of establishment Washington were enchanted by him.
As Trump touched down on UK soil, hundreds of his British superfans marched in a street with anti-Trump protesters. One particular man really caught our attention. Head to toe, covered in a mesh of US and UK flags, he flaunted his devotion to the controversial ex-president. Another supporter added to the creativity by strapping a Trump mask around his waist. He brandished an Israeli flag in one hand and a selfie stick in the other.
In the midst of the crowd, one particularly striking image captured attention: a man painted an artistic representation of Trump as a caveman, carrying King Charles on his back like a child. This portrayal, of course, caught the wild man aesthetic that almost everyone has come to associate with Trump. It further solidified the image of him being a “creepy, very weird guy.”
The meeting had no shortage of colorful characters. One of them was a woman wearing a MAGA vest who had a muzzled Alsatian dog, dressed in a “MAGA” vest. Her presence served to illuminate just how loyal and just how fiery these supporters can be. A few feet from her was a man in a T-shirt proclaiming “Trump Was Right About Everything.”
Trump’s supporters were not alone. They shared the space with vocal anti-Trump activists, creating a charged atmosphere outside the royal residence. A black man in a bright red suit adorned with US and UK flags held a flag proclaiming “God Save King Charles III.” He stood alongside a white man in a dark navy fleece who donned a red “Make America Great Again” cap, symbolizing the convergence of different political sentiments at the event.
Sgt. Lyn Smith of the local police department described her department’s preparedness for any rowdiness that might come with the President’s visit. As she put it, “We are prepared for whatever is coming our way on or near the water.” With police presence maximized, authorities set out to keep people safe with the complex and intense emotions surrounding Trump’s visit.
As Trump reviewed the guard alongside King Charles, spectators filming the unexpected scene experienced quite the opposite. A talking head on Sky News remarked on how weather conditions could affect the day’s events: “You can see some drops of rain on the camera there, and rain obviously has an impact on flying.”
Mark Wilson, one of the attendees who supported Trump, spoke about taking the community dialog to a new level. He stated, “We’re about caring for people, fixing things, looking after communities,” reflecting sentiments shared by many within Trump’s base.
The scene outside Windsor Castle underscored how totally Trump has bent his supporters to his will. It illustrated the profound schism in British society over his political character. As for the supporters, the overwhelming passion of his supporters reminded us that Trump still has a deep reach with folks out there. This connection is still strong, even when countries apart.