UK Politics

Donald Trump has said he is expecting to travel to to the UK in September for his second state visit.

King Charles is preparing to host the US president and first lady as the UK government tries to bolster transatlantic ties after Trump imposed a series of tariffs on trading partners.

The venue is expected to be Windsor Castle, with Keir Starmer and the US president understood to have discussed the visit during a phone call.

Trump on Thursday appeared to suggest Buckingham Palace was “setting a date for September”.

He told reporters in the Oval Office: “I was invited by the king and the country – great country.

“They’re going to do a second, as you know, a second fest … that’s what it is: a fest, and it’s beautiful, and it’s the first time it’s ever happened to one person.

“And the reason is we have two separate terms, and it’s an honour … I’m a friend of Charles, I have great respect for King Charles and the family, William, we have really just a great respect for the family.

“And I think they’re setting a date for September.”

Starmer has prioritised striking a trade deal with Washington, opting not to retaliate over Trump’s decision to impose 10% tariffs on goods exported to the US, and 25% tariffs on UK car and steel exports, instead offering concessions on areas including digital taxes and agriculture.

The US vice-president, JD Vance, said on Tuesday he believed a mutually beneficial US-UK trade deal was within reach.

In February, the king extended a personal invitation for the Trumps to stay at either Dumfries House or Balmoral, both in Scotland.

Starmer used his trip to the White House to present the US president with the invitation letter from the monarch.

Traditionally second-term US presidents are not offered a state visit and have instead been invited for tea or lunch with the monarch at Windsor Castle.