Victory! Trump's UK visit cancelled by fear of protests

Protesting against Trump, photo Paul Mattsson, photo Paul Mattsson (Click to enlarge)

Jack Maxey, Goldsmiths Socialist Students

A victory for the left! President Trump has cancelled his visit for the opening of the new US embassy in London, scheduled for this February.

Both Trump and Theresa May feared the visit would spark mass demonstrations against his racist and bigoted views and policy agenda.

Last month Socialist Party members joined a protest outside the US embassy to protest against Trump's retweeting of the far-right group Britain First. He broadcast their racist lies to his over 46 million Twitter followers.

Trump has more recently made headlines by reportedly describing a number of African countries, as well as Haiti and El Salvador, as "shitholes."

In a lot of cases, of course, US imperialism bears a big responsibility for any problems that do exist in these countries, including by overthrowing their governments.

True to form, Trump denies the remarks himself. But Dick Durbin, a Democratic senator who was at the meeting, stated "he said these hate-filled things and he said them repeatedly."

But it's OK - Trump then told the press "I am the least racist person you will ever interview."

Movements

The implications of this are big for the students' and workers' movements. The Conservative Party is fragmented.

The majority they hoped to increase with a snap election disappeared, leading to a hung parliament.

Meanwhile, Trump is the least popular first-year president in history, and his Republicans aren't happy with him either.

Both Trump and May are wary of the power that movements of workers and young people have, particularly in their vulnerable situations. A state visit to Britain would give momentum to the opposition.

Diplomatic norms require the visit to happen at some point, but neither leader wants to provoke the inevitable uproar that will come with it.

In January 2017 May formally invited Trump for a state visit, resulting in thousands of people taking to the streets of London in protest.

If they're afraid of protests - let's give them protests! The National Union of Students should call a national demo for free education - and build to get students out on the NHS demonstration on 3 March too.

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Finance appeal

The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.

The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.

The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.

The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.