Canadians criticize UK's Starmer for supporting Trump's visit

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing backlash from Canadians over his support for U.S. President Donald Trump's upcoming second state visit to the U.K. Many Canadians are expressing their displeasure online. Starmer invited Trump for the unprecedented visit during an event at The White House last month. This makes Trump the first U.S. president in modern history to receive a second state visit after visiting the U.K. in 2019. State visits typically include ceremonial greetings from King Charles III and a state banquet at Buckingham Palace. They usually last a few days. Starmer clarified that the invitation came from the King, stating that the U.S. is Britain's closest ally. The visit occurs amid ongoing trade tensions between the U.S. and Canada. Recently, Trump threatened to impose new tariffs on Canadian goods. This has led to frustration from Canadians, especially since British politicians and the Royals have not publicly supported Canada. Many Canadians voiced their concerns online. One user said, "Shame on the PM of the UK. Canada is a member of the Commonwealth." Another expressed sadness over the decision, while a third noted the difficult relationship with the U.S. During the interview, Starmer acknowledged Canada's long-standing importance as an ally, but it is unclear when Trump’s state visit will happen.