Donald Trump has cancelled plans to open London’s new US embassy building over fears of mass protests.
The US President was scheduled for a UK trip over the coming months for the building’s opening but took to Twitter to say he is “not a fan”.
“I’m not a big fan of the Obama Administration having sold perhaps the best located and finest embassy in London for ‘peanuts,’ only to build a new one in an off location for 1.2 billion dollars. Bad deal,” Trump said on Twitter. “Wanted me to cut ribbon — NO!” he tweeted.
The London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, said on Friday that Trump had clearly “got the message” that many Londoners would not welcome his visit.
“It appears that President Trump got the message from the many Londoners who love and admire America and Americans but find his policies and actions the polar opposite of our city’s values of inclusion, diversity and tolerance,”
“His visit next month would without doubt have been met by mass peaceful protests. This just reinforces what a mistake it was for Theresa May to rush and extend an invitation of a state visit in the first place.”
According to The Guardian, the US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, will open the new building. The new embassy will be moving from 24 Grosvenor Square to Nine Elms in south London – a decision that was made by the Bush administration.
Officials have said that Trump still plans to accept the formal invitation from Theresa May but no date has been set.
Instead of a state visit, Trump is planning to make a brief, less formal visit to the UK in February, as well as meetings with Theresa May.
“The president and the prime minister have a very, very good relationship. I know the president admires and respects the prime minister greatly,” said Trump’s ambassador to London, Woody Johnson.