7 Contentious Issues To Keep An Eye On During Trump's State Visit

Keir Starmer thought he had secured a royal flush when he offered Donald Trump an “unprecedented” invitation for a second state visit earlier this year.

Now the big occasion has officially rolled around and the timing couldn’t be worse for the prime minister.

Any visit from the divisive Republican, who is pretty unpopular in the UK, presents a rather tense moment for the British politicians who have to host him.

But Starmer’s most unpredictable ally is now coming to town just as Downing Street is beset by problems coming from all sides.

Here’s a look at some of the issues most likely to trip up the prime minister during Trump’s hurried 48-hour stay.

1. Relations with Epstein

Trump has been trying desperately to dampen down questions around his past links to the late convicted sex offender over in the US, but fresh revelations continue to revive questions around their friendship and have made it across the pond. 

A political campaign group called Everyone Hates Elon unveiled a huge picture of Trump and Epstein outside of Windsor Castle on Monday, ahead of his visit.

Epstein’s ongoing legacy has sent waves across the UK in recent days too.

Starmer sacked his US ambassador, Labour grandee Lord Peter Mandelson, last week.

It came after newly-released emails from 2008 revealed Mandelson had called for Epstein’s 18-month prison sentence for soliciting a child for prostitution to be challenged.

Starmer said: “Had I know then what I know now, I’d have never appointed him.”

Trump, who had a strong bond with Mandelson, was allegedly displeased Starmer did not inform him of the ambassador’s sacking personally.

Both men are likely to face very difficult questions about the issue during their joint press conference on Thursday.

2. Starmer’s domestic struggles

Trump is known for seeing himself as a “winner”, and is keen to surround himself with other supposed victors – including Starmer, who won the general election on a landslide – even if they don’t align politically.

But just over a year later, the PM is now facing repeated questions about his future in the role – could Trump subsequently be about to cool on Starmer?

After 12 months of unpopular policies like cuts to welfare and international aid, the prime minister tried to turn over a new page on September 1, promising a period of “delivery, delivery, delivery”.

However, the scandal around Angela Rayner’s second property and her subsequent resignation, the sacking of Mandelson and the abrupt departure from Starmer’s director of political strategy Paul Ovenden over resurfaced messages about Diane Abbott mean the PM looking especially weak right now.

Even his own MPs are questioning whether he will last in the post until Christmas.

3. Anti-Trump protests

Those opposed to the US president are hoping to put together an even bigger demonstration against him after the Tommy Robinson-led far-right march at the weekend.

They are set to gather outside Windsor Castle from 5.30pm today, although Trump will not be visiting the royal residence until Wednesday morning – but protesters are hope he sees it on the media.

Meanwhile, Lib Dem leader Ed Davey will show his own frustration at Trump’s appearance by boycotting the state banquet tomorrow.

Similarly, Green Party MP Ellie Chowns has filed an Early Day Motion (EDM) saying Trump does not “deserve the honour of a second UK state visit”, due to the Epstein scandal.

She also criticised the use of US F-35 military jets in the flypast with the Red Arrows during the visit, as the planes are used in Israel on its war against Gaza.

She said: “State visits are honours; Trump doesn’t deserve one.”

Her motion was supported by seven other MPs including Jeremy Corbyn.

Starmer has timed the visit so it is during parliamentary recess, so MPs are not able to show their potential disdain for the president face-to-face – but Trump is known to be a keen newsreader, and could soon find out about the resistance to his presence here.

4. Question marks over free speech

The assassination of right-wing commentator and pro-MAGA campaigner Charlie Kirk last week has energised the international debate around the line between free speech and hate speech – including by the Trump administration.

As the far-right rally at the weekend, known as the “Unite the Kingdom” march, demonstrated, there’s a growing body of people who claim free speech is under threat in the UK.

Former Trump adviser Elon Musk even appeared via video link to tell the crowds that “violence is coming” to the UK and to call for a “change of government in Britain”.

Even though – as cabinet ministers noted – the rally itself was proof that free speech is alive and well in the UK, there are fears Trump could revive this debate during his stay.

5. Ongoing pressure over Ukraine 

Away from the grandeur of the state visit, Starmer also wants to make some progress on stopping Russia’s war in Ukraine – with Trump’s help.

While the US president has repeatedly sided with Vladimir Putin in his quest to end the conflict, his frustration over Moscow’s refusal to come to the negotiating table seems to pushing him to finally align with his European allies.

Trump finally admitted that Russia was the aggressor in the war over the weekend and said he was willing to impose secondary sanctions on Moscow.

However, he claimed he would only do that if other Nato nations completely weaned its off Russia’s cheap fossil fuel exports. 

Before the war, the EU got around 45% of its natural gas from Russia. That is expected to fall to around 13%, but that might not be far enough, according to Trump.

In what he called a letter to Nato allies, he said: “The purchase of Russian oil, by some, has been shocking! It greatly weakens your negotiating position, and bargaining power, over Russia.”

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also demanded a “clear position” from Trump on ending the war, adding: “I very much hope he [Starmer] will be able to have a very specific discussion on the security guarantees of the US for Ukraine.”

6. Splits over the Middle East

The US secretary of state Marco Rubio is clearly not a fan of Labour’s plans to recognise a Palestinian state later this month during the UN’s General Assembly.

During a visit to Israel, he backed Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and said the UK’s move would have “no impact whatsoever” on moving towards a two-state solution, and instead just “embolden Hamas.”

He claimed the UK, along with France, Canada, Australia and Belgium, were also doing this solely because of their domestic problems.

7. Trade and the economy

While Starmer did secure the first tariff deal with Trump earlier this year after his so-going “liberation day”, Britain still wants to get the US president’s ongoing penalties on steel and aluminium trade lifted.

But there’s allegedly little sign of a meeting between chancellor Rachel Reeves and her US counterpart Scott Bessent on that topic during this state visit.

Tech and energy deals are also expected to be announced during Trump’s trip, which may help power new AI data centres.

Starmer will have to do a delicate balancing act to make sure none of these sore spots threaten his strong relationship with the mercurial US president.