Donald Trump’s visit to Britain last year was little more than a stopover between his first Nato summit and his meeting with Vladimir Putin, the man who, it is claimed, helped to put him in the White House through manipulating the US presidential election.

Even that very short trip, perhaps inevitably, was long on controversy, with the US president criticising Theresa May and her Brexit strategy in a newspaper interview the day before he flew in. He also declared that Boris Johnson “would make a great prime minister” as well as attacking London mayor Sadiq Khan over terrorist attacks. There were anti-Trump protests across the country and a giant inflatable Trump baby flew over London.

The trip last July had been initially envisaged as a state visit, but this was changed after widespread outcry. Trump’s arrival next week, with his extended family, will, this time, be a full state visit, as opposed to an official or a working one. He will be only the third US president to have what is considered a great honour after George W Bush and Barack Obama.

But this visit too is surrounded by controversy. Trump has preceded it by describing Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson, one of the 12 Tory contenders to replace Ms May, as “big powers” who “have done a good job”. The US president has said he would like to meet these “friends” while he is here.

Farage and Johnson (who once accused Trump of “stupefying ignorance that makes him frankly unfit to hold the office of president of the United States”) would, no doubt, relish photo opportunities with the US president. It would certainly boost their profiles with their constituencies.

Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Show all 100 1 /100 Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May and US President Donald Trump walk to a joint news conference holding hands Reuters Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting People march holding anti-Trump signs in Edinburgh while the US. President is visiting Trump Turnberry Luxury Collection Resort in Scotland Getty Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump depart from Glasgow Prestwick Airport REUTERS Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Trump on the back Getty Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting President Donald Trump waves whilst playing a round of golf at Trump Turnberry Luxury Collection Resort Getty Images Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Donut TrumpScotland United Against Trump demonstrators gather at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh PA Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Donald Trump plays a round of golf at Trump Turnberry Getty Images Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting People march holding anti-Trump signs Getty Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting US President Donald Trump plays a round of golf on the Trump Turnberry resort in South Ayrshire, where he and first lady Melania Trump are spending the weekend. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday July 14, 2018. See PA story POLITICS Trump. Photo credit should read: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire Andrew Milligan PA Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Trump waves form golf course Getty Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting TURNBERRY, SCOTLAND - JULY 14: Scottish stand-up comedian Janey Godley gives a high-five to a police officer as she holds a sign in protest on the beach outside near Trump Turnberry Luxury Collection Resort during the U.S. President's visit to the United Kingdom on July 14, 2018 in Turnberry, Scotland. The President of the United States and First Lady, Melania Trump on their first official visit to the UK after yesterday's meetings with the Prime Minister and the Queen is in Scotland for private weekend stay at his Turnberry. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images) Leon Neal Getty Images Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Trump goes for a stroll Getty Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Trump blimpA giant balloon depicting US President Donald Trump as an orange baby is launched as protesters gather in the Meadows, after taking part in the Scotland United Against Trump march through the streets of Edinburgh AFP/Getty Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting U.S. President Donald Trump drives his golf buggy REUTERS Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting A Greenpeace protester flying a microlight passes over Donald Trump's resort in Turnberry PA Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump look at the media during their arrival on Air Force One at Glasgow Prestwick Airport in Scotland AP Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Scotland United Against Trump demonstrators gather at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh PA Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Security and police teams surround the perimeter of Trmup's golf course Getty Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Scotland United Against Trump demonstrators PA Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Teams of police officers patrol the beach outside near Trump Turnberry Luxury Collection Resort Getty Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Pro-Trump supporters demonstrate outside the US Embassy in support of President Donald Trump's visit to the UK, in London EPA Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Scottish Labour leader, Richard Leonard speaks to crowd PA Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Ex-pat AFP/Getty Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Demonstrators hold placards near the golf resort owned by US President REUTERS Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Protesters wear orange face makeup Getty Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Pro-Trump supporters demonstrate outside the US Embassy in London EPA Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Trump protestors on the beach near to the Trump Turnberry resort PA Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Protestors against the UK visit of US President Donald Trump near Aberdeen AFP/Getty Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting A mounted police officer patrols anti-Trump rally Getty Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Trump supporter Bill McGibbon outside his cottage near to the Trump Turnberry resort in South Ayrshire PA Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Trafalgar Square is filled with protesters against the UK visit of US President Donald Trump holding up placards as they take part in a march and rally in London on July 13, 2018. Tens of thousands of protesters demonstrated in London on Friday against US President Donald Trump, whose four-day visit to Britain has been marred by his extraordinary attack on Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit strategy. / AFP PHOTO / Tolga AKMENTOLGA AKMEN/AFP/Getty Images TOLGA AKMEN AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Queen Elizabeth II and President Donald Trump inspect an honour guard at Windsor Castle Getty Images Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Demonstrators on the 'Stop Trump' march through London, as part of the protests against the visit of US President Donald Trump to the UK. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday July 13, 2018. See PA story POLITICS Trump. Photo credit should read: Joe Giddens/PA Wire Joe Giddens PA Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Queen Elizabeth II stands with US President Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, during their visit to Windsor Castle PA Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Donald Trump walks ahead of Queen Elizabeth AP Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 13: Protesters take part in a demonstration against President Trump's visit to the UK in Trafalgar Square on July 13, 2018 in London, England. Tens of Thousands Of Anti-Trump protesters are expected to demonstrate in London and across the country against the UK visit by the President of the United States. Many people disagree with his policies that include migrant family separation, discrimination of transgender military personnel and changes to laws protecting women's sexual health. (Photo by Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images) Chris J Ratcliffe Getty Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Donald and Melania Trump listen to the Coldstream Guards, play the US national anthem next to the Queen REUTERS Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Protesters in Windor Getty Images Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting US President Donald Trump and first lady Melanie Trump are greeted by Queen Elizabeth II, during an arrival ceremony with the Guard of Honour at Windsor AP Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Queen Elizabeth II waits to greet US President Donald Trump as he arrives by helicopter AFP/Getty Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Ed Miliband joins the march Angela Christofilou Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting PM and President Getty Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Protestors hold banners AP Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting UK meets US AFP/Getty Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Protests at Trump visit Angela Christofilou Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Trump and May Getty Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Protests at Trump visit Will Gore Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Protesters for the 'Stop Trump' Women's March gather in London AP Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting US President Donald Trump and Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May hold a joint press conference AFP/Getty Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Donald Trump and Theresa May attend a press conference AFP/Getty Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Demonstrators protest against the visit of U.S. President Donald Trump REUTERS Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Prime Minister Theresa May walks with US President Donald Trump at Chequers Getty Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Donald Trump UK protest Angela Christofilou Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting First Lady, Melania Trump, tries her hand at bowls Getty Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting US President and British Prime Minister at Chequers Reuters Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Demonstrator in Black Lives matter T-shirt Angela Christofilou Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Theresa May and Donald Trump enter Chequers REUTERS Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Protestors wearing Donald Trump and Theresa May paper mache heads join the protest in Butler's Cross PA Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting First Lady, Melania Trump, looks on as Philip May tries bowls Getty Images Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting American Psycho poster Angela Christofilou Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting First Lady, Melania Trump, reacts as she tries her hand at bowls Getty Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Donald Trump protest in London Angela Christofilou Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Theresa May, Donald Trump with US ambassador to the United Kingdom Woody Johnson and British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt at the start of the bilateral meeting at Chequers EPA Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Melania Trump and Philip May wave flags REUTERS Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Donald Trump is greeted by Theresa May AP Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting The US First Lady Melania Trump, helps children to make poppies PA Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting The handshake between Donald Trump and Theresa May AP Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Demonstrators raise a six meter high effigy of Donald Trump Getty Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Donald Trump stands alongside Theresa May after he arrived for talks at Chequers, her country residence in Buckinghamshire PA Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting A six-meter high cartoon baby blimp of Donald Trump hovers next to the statue of former Prime Minister Winston Churchill AP Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting First Lady, Melania Trump, accompanied by Philip May, meets schoolchildren and British Army veterans Getty Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting A lookalike of former British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson stands next to a person in a cage wearing a money suit and a mask of Donald Trump AP Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Donald Trump gestures as he prepares to board Marine One to depart the US ambassador's residence Winfield House AFP/Getty Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Demonstrators stand in front of a blimp portraying US. President Donald Trump, in Parliament Square REUTERS Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting The Prime Minister hosts President Trump and First Lady Melania at a black tie dinner with business leaders at Blenheim Palace AFP/Getty Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting The Prime Minister, accompanied by husband Philip, arrive with President Trump and First Lady Melania to a black tie dinner with business leaders at Blenheim Palace AP Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting The Prime Minister and President Trump are seen holding hands, not for the first time EPA Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting President Donald Trump pumps his fist during his arrival, with first lady Melania Trump, in Regent's Park AP Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Demonstrators bang pots and pans as they gather at the US ambassador residence in Regent's Park PA Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting US President Donald Trump and US First Lady Melania Trump walk in the grounds of the US ambassador's residence Winfield House AFP/Getty Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting A demonstrator protests next to the specially erected fence surrounding the US ambassador's residence REUTERS Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting A motorcade arrives at Winfield House in London, the residence of American Ambassador to the to the Court of St James's PA Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting A presidential helicopter lands in the grounds of the US ambassador residence in Regent's Park PA Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Protesters chant and wave placards during a demonstration outside Winfield House Getty Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting he Marine One helicopter carrying US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump flies past the BT Tower Getty Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Protesters chant and wave placards during a demonstration outside Winfield House Getty Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump disembark from Air Force One after arriving in the UK Reuters Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting US First Lady Melania Trump and US President Donald Trump are greeted by US Ambassador to the United Kingdom Woody Johnson AFP Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting US President Trump and Melania Trump leaving Stansted Airport PA Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting An honour guard stands to receive US President Donald Trump and US First Lady Melania Trump AFP/Getty Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Donald and Melania Getty Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump greet Secretary of State for International Trade Liam Fox on their arrival Getty Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting US Marine Corps Osprey aircraft taking off PA Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Us President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump disembark from Air Force One AP Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting US President Trump and Melania Trump arrive at Stansted PA Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting A giant 'Human Rights Nightmare' banner is unfurled by Amnesty International activists across the river Thames on Vauxhall Bridge to protest against the visit of US President Donald Trump AP Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting US President Donald Trump waves as he arrives in the UK PA Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting An armed police officier waits on the tarmac at Stansted Airport AFP/Getty Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting US President Donald Trump and Melania Trump arrive at Stansted Airport PA Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Armed police await the arrival of US President Donald Trump at Stansted Airport REUTERS

But there have been clear messages from other politicians that the current US president is unwelcome. Trump has generated an unparalleled level of hostility. Unlike Obama, or Bill Clinton or Ronald Reagan, he will not be allowed the joint session of the Houses of Parliament. This is due to opposition from many MPs across the parties, as well as the Commons speaker John Bercow who, along with the leader of the opposition Jeremy Corbyn and Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable, will boycott the state banquet held by the Queen.

There have been some changes for the Trump Presidency and Theresa May’s UK since last year; but many things have also remained the same. The US president’s meeting with Putin did nothing to allay suspicions among critics that he was the Muscovian candidate for the White House. An example given is that Trump, an equal opportunities insult of all and sundry, still has not uttered one single word against Putin, continuing the speculation on what exactly the Russian leader has on him.

The investigation by Robert Mueller which had hung over Trump’s presidency has ended, but it did not, as the president and his supporters claim, result in his exoneration. The shadow of “Russiagate” and the threat of impeachment stays on, as Mueller’s public statement on Wednesday, the reaction in Congress and the media, and Trump’s convoluted barrage of tweets show.

Trump’s two summits with another strongman, Kim Jong-un, did not lead to the solving of North Korea’s nuclear problem as the US president had claimed it would do. Trump tried to dismiss Pyongyang’s recent test firing of missiles as no big deal, but he has been contradicted by his national security advisor, John Bolton, and acting defence secretary, Patrick Shanahan, who have said publicly that there were clear violations of UN resolutions.

North Korea is not the only issue in which Trump appears to be at odds with his senior officials. He is said to be annoyed with the hawkish Bolton and, to a lesser extent, secretary of state Mike Pompeo, over the deployment of an aircraft carrier strike group and B-52 bombers to the Gulf in the confrontation with Iran and sabre rattling on Venezuela where they had supposedly predicted a quick regime change. Trump, who is not a war-like president, is said to feel he is being dragged into foreign adventures.

But Trump falling out with his officials is nothing new. This White House has had a churn of staff like no other in recent times. Bolton, for instance, is his third national security advisor after Lieutenant General Michael Flynn was indicted by the Mueller investigation and Major General HR McMaster resigned.

In Britain, Theresa May’s government has also had an unprecedented number of resignations and now she herself has gone, officially stepping down just after the president finishes his visit. This lends a certain surreal aspect to the visit and raises questions about what she would say to Trump who had belittled her and praised her internal party rivals.

The owners of the Trump blimp, which was flown over the capital during the president's visit last year, have been granted permission to unleash it again (Reuters)

Angela Merkel, finishing her distinguished political career, has been assertive in standing up to the Trump administration. At the last meeting of the annual Munich security conference the German chancellor gave a robust response to US vice president Mike Pence who had complained about European partners on a variety of issues from foreign to trade policies. That, say observers, is not May’s way and she is expected to stay quiet and maintain decorum.

We do know broadly the issues Trump and his team would be focusing on through information which has come from their outriders.

Bolton has stated that there would be renewed attempts to get the UK to swing behind the American attempts to dismantle the nuclear deal with Iran. Britain, along with the other signatories to the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) as well as the UN have repeatedly affirmed that the deal is working and are attempting to save it.

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The European Union is putting together a financial programme which seeks to enable businesses to trade with Iran in the face of US sanctions. Bolton held up the possibility that Britain’s position may change after Brexit. “By definition as an independent country you can make up your own policy, it’s different once you are outside the European Union,” he said in London on Thursday. The UK however had signed up to the programme as a JCPOA signatory and not a European Union member.

There will be tremendous pressure to bar the Chinese technology giant Huawei from the UK telecommunications network. Trump, according to multiple reports, will warn that there could be problems with intelligence sharing if the Chinese firm, which has been accused of being an arm of the Chinese government, is allowed in. Bolton stated “everybody is catching up to the dangers posed, especially in 5th generation telecommunications systems, by equipment from Huawei that can allow foreign governments a back door into systems”.

The Americans could well succeed on Huawei. The decision to allow the company in was leaked from a National Security Council meeting. May, it was revealed, overrode the objections of five cabinet ministers to drive the decision through, although no official announcement has been made yet. It is unlikely that any of her Tory successors would stick to that position, especially as other allies of Britain are also putting restrictions on the Chinese company.

“At the end the UK will have to choose between China and the US on this and I can’t see a Conservative prime minister taking on the US on this, it just isn’t worth it on so many grounds” said Robert Emerson, a security analyst.

Trump has been pressing for Britain to go for a hard Brexit, offering a quick trade deal with America as the carrot. But with the withdrawal process remaining unclear and uncertain it remains very doubtful that anything could be settled on this.

Ian Bond, director of foreign policy at the Centre for European Reform, pointed out “The UK is still lurching around, seeking a way out of the Brexit swamp. It may leave the EU with or without a deal, but it may not.