British Twitter reacts to Donald Trump backing out of London visit
President’s excuse for cancelling embassy trip met with mockery online

President Donald Trump’s cancellation of a planned visit to the UK next month to open the new US embassy isn’t breaking too many hearts on British Twitter.
In fact, many of Trump’s UK detractors - including Labour MP David Lammy - rejoiced to learn that the controversial commander-in-chief would no longer be on ribbon-cutting duty in London next month:
Although those who had been eagerly anticipating the planned mass demonstrations outside the new embassy were a tad disappointed:
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Other tweeters helpfully suggested other destinations for the President not to visit:
And one user had an idea for an alternative trip:
Trump’s stated reason for the cancellation was his dissatisfaction with Barack Obama’s sale of the former embassy site (a deal which, as many commenters pointed out, was actually struck in 2008 during the Bush administration).
The logic struck many as thoroughly unconvincing:
Prompting Twitter users to share their own tongue-in-cheek excuses for giving their own planned excursions a miss:
The new embassy, a high-security fortress in Battersea which cost an estimated $1bn, will now be opened by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.
But just in case any Brits were actually looking forward to seeing Trump at the US embassy, waxwork museum Madame Tussauds transported their model of the president across town to provide the next best thing:
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Store closings could accelerate throughout 2025
Under the Radar Major brands like Macy's and Walgreens are continuing to shutter stores
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Crossword: February 20, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sudoku hard: February 20, 2025
The Week's daily hard sudoku puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
Who is actually running DOGE?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION The White House said in a court filing that Elon Musk isn't the official head of Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency task force, raising questions about just who is overseeing DOGE's federal blitzkrieg
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump officials try to reverse DOGE-led firings
Speed Read Mass firings by Elon Musk's team have included employees working on the H5N1 bird flu epidemic and US nuclear weapons programs
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump blames Ukraine for war after US-Russia talks
Speed Read The US and Russia have agreed to work together on ending the Ukraine war — but President Trump has flipped America's approach
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
What will the thaw in Russia-US relations cost Europe?
Today's Big Question US determination to strike a deal with Russia over Ukraine means Europe faces 'betrayal by a long-term ally'
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
The end of empathy
Opinion Elon Musk is gutting the government — and our capacity for kindness
By Theunis Bates Published
-
What is Donald Trump's net worth?
In Depth Separating fact from fiction regarding the president's finances is harder than it seems
By David Faris Published
-
How will Keir Starmer pay for greater defence spending?
Today's Big Question Funding for courts, prisons, local government and the environment could all be at risk
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Senate confirms RFK Jr. as health secretary
Speed Read The noted vaccine skeptic is now in charge of America's massive public health system
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published