Protesters wear masks of politicians during a demonstration of the Stop Trump Coalition group against President Donald Trump's state visit in London, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025Protesters opposing Donald Trump’s second state visit to the UK have gathered in London to call out the US president today.
While the Republican is being wooed with royal grandeur in Windsor Castle – far away from the potentially hostile crowds – thousands joined an organisation known as the Anti-Trump Coalition marching in London to oppose his trip.
Moving from Portland Place to Parliament Square, the organisers said it was a sentiment shared across the political spectrum that “we should not be rolling out the red carpet for Donald Trump”.
A spokesperson said: “The large numbers of people marching today are telling Starmer and his government that they must stand up to Trump.
“There is a clear difference between having diplomatic relationships and hosting an authoritarian leader for the pageantry of a state visit.
“Trump is clearly in Putin’s pocket – and we would not allow Putin in the UK, let alone invite him for a state visit.”
The US president has long promised to end the Ukraine war, but often only agreed to terms favourable to Putin, such as forcing Ukraine to give up its occupied territories in the name of peace.
He has – until recently – repeatedly echoed Kremlin talking points, such as the false claim that Ukraine started the conflict.
Protesters hold a banner with a slogan which reads "Russian Troops Out! Solidarity With Ukraine!" during an anti-Trump protest in London, UK, on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. The spokesperson added that it was “naive” to think wining and dining Trump would encourage him to support the UK in the future.
They also accused Keir Starmer of selling out the UK for a tech deal which only hands victory to industry tycoons like Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos.
The government declared it had struck up a new multi-dollar transatlantic tech agreement with the US shortly after Trump’s arrival on Tuesday night, which would include some of the largest names from Silicon Valley.
Green Party leader Zack Polanski also joined the anti-Trump protest on Wednesday afternoon.
Speaking beforehand, he said Trump comes to Britain “seeking credibility and to whitewash his own complicity in the genocide unfolding in Gaza.”
Only this week, the UN Commission declared that it believes Israel’s war on Gaza was officially a genocide.
Attacking the US’s ongoing support for Israel even as it continues to strike the Palestinian territory, Polanski said: “Our country has a proud tradition of standing up for the underdog.
“Today, that means standing alongside every child in Gaza; with all those in detention camps on the borders of the United States and with each and every one of those growing up in poverty here in Britain.
“And standing up to the bully Donald Trump and his poodle, Nigel Farage.”
Other protesters brandished signs calling Trump a “fascist”, while some took issue with a wide range of Trump’s allies including Reform UK’s Nigel Farage – a long-time supporter of Trump – and Elon Musk, the president’s former top adviser, who was mocked as a “misinformer” by demonstrators wearing masks.
Protesters hold placards during an anti-Trump protest in London, UK, on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. The US and Britain will sign an agreement to make it quicker for companies in both countries to build nuclear power stations when President Donald Trump visits this week, according to the UK government.A handful of protesters also gathered outside Windsor Castle, although they were largely outnumbered by the media and police.
Still, Wednesday’s demonstrations came hours after police arrested campaigners Led By Donkeys for projecting an image of Trump and the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein onto Windsor Castle last night.
Political campaign group Led By Donkeys project an image of Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump onto Windsor Castle as US President Trump's second state visit to the UK begins on 16th September 2025These protests all clearly represent a wider feeling among Brits that Trump is still not welcome here.
It comes as YouGov polling revealed more than half of Brits (53%) think the Trump presidency has been bad for the UK, compared to just 9% who think it has a positive impact.
Just 30% of respondents told the pollsters that it was right to invite Trump while 45% said it was wrong.
A further 30% said they believe Starmer has been “too positive” towards the US president and should be more critical towards him.
And, perhaps most embarrassingly of all, 38% of Britons said they do not think this special treatment has made any real difference to how Trump treats the UK.
So, as Trump’s visit seems to have brought British hostilities to the divisive president to the surface, the only question is: will Starmer decide it was all worth it?
A protester holds up a placard during the state visit by the President of the United States of America outside Windsor Castle on September 17, 2025 in Windsor, England. 
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