UK Pressured to Cancel King's US Visit Amid Iran War

0:00On March 23, pressure is mounting on Buckingham Palace and Downing Street to cancel or delay the King's plan-state visit to the United States. The trip, expected in April to mark the upcoming 250th anniversary of American independence, could overlap with the ongoing U.S. war against Iran, which is already hitting the U.K. economy hard. Labor MPs are leading the charge against it. Polly Billington warned it could embarrass the monarch during a meeting with President Donald Trump, while Dame Emily Thornberry suggested waiting, until things calmed down in the Middle East. Trump, however, insists the visit is happening very soon. Public opinion leans that way, too, with a recent U-Gov poll showing 46% of Britain's think the King should skip the trip this year. Tensions between the U.K. and U.S. have grown, as Trump has slammed the British approach to the conflict and taken shots at Prime Minister Sir Keir, Starmer. Despite everyone agrees on post-poning, conservative leader Kemi Badanoch supports it, saying the King and body standards both leaders could learn from.

1:02Reform U.K. head Nigel Farage calls it even more vital now to keep ties strong, especially after Trump's rare second-state visit to the U.K. last year. Buckingham Palace has left the decision to the government and foreign office, so for now, the plans hang in the balance as the war drags on.