History repeats as Trump begins controversial UK trip

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03:52

As U.S. President Donald Trump begins another controversial UK visit, History Repeating, the classic Propellerheads song featuring Shirley Bassey, seems a suitable soundtrack.

"And I've seen it before,

And I'll see it again,

Yes I've seen it before,

Just little bits of history repeating."

Rewind eleven months, and Trump landed in Britain to baby blimp-led protests before meeting royalty and holding talks with an under-pressure Theresa May at a period of Brexit chaos.

He then gave an interview to The Sun in which he criticized May's Brexit strategy and said Boris Johnson – who had resigned as foreign secretary days earlier – would be a "great prime minister."

A mural of Donald Trump embracing Boris Johnson is seen on a building in Bristol, May 24, 2016. /VCG Photo

Fast-forward to the present, a lot has happened but little has changed.

Trump and family arrive to baby blimp-led protests before meeting royalty and holding talks with an on-the-way-out May at a time of Brexit stalemate.

The Sun interview has been repeated, complete with praise for Johnson, backing for a no-deal Brexit and implicit criticism of the outgoing prime minister

Trump's UK agenda

Monday: Events with the Queen Elizabeth II, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, before a 170-person state banquet at Buckingham Palace.

Tuesday: Talks with business leaders and a press conference with Prime Minister Theresa May, before a dinner at the U.S. ambassador's residence in Regent's Park.

Wednesday: Attends event in Portsmouth commemorating the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

The familiarities will offer little comfort to a relationship between the world's largest and fifth-largest economies that has been less than special in recent years.

Though Trump has looked to Britain more than his predecessor, the White House and Downing Street are at odds on multiple fronts, from trade and energy to Iran and security.

The political emphasis of the trip is likely to be prospects for a post-Brexit deal, but given that May will step down as Conservative Party leader on Friday and effectively act as caretaker prime minister until the end of July, substantive progress appears unlikely.

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May and U.S. President Donald Trump at Chequers, near Aylesbury, July 13, 2018. /VCG Photo

The relationship could warm up under a new British prime minister and Trump has spoken glowingly of the New York-born Boris Johnson, frontrunner in the race to replace May. The men have a rapport and a post-Brexit Britain under the former London mayor's leadership would likely look to move quickly on a trade deal with the United States.

Washington's envoy to the UK, Woody Johnson, ensured the issue is part of the Conservative leadership debate with a BBC interview on Sunday. He controversially suggested U.S. private sector involvement in the National Health Service and the acceptance of American food products would be "on the table" in any deal.

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Trump and Johnson are expected to meet during the trip, and the U.S. president may also hold talks with right-wing populist Nigel Farage, leader of the Brexit Party.

"Nigel Farage is a friend of mine, Boris is a friend of mine, they're two very good guys, very interesting people," Trump told The Sun. "I think they are big powers over there. Maybe it's not my business to support people. But I have a lot of respect for both of those men."

A giant projection of the Trump Baby lit up the White Cliffs of Dover, June 1, 2019. /VCG Photo

Trump's pre-arrival words - he also called for Farage to be involved in UK negotiations with the European Union - have prompted sharp criticism.

Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the opposition Labour Party, has refused to attend Monday's state banquet and accused the U.S. president of interfering in the UK's internal affairs. Former UK ambassador to Washington Sir Christopher Meyer warned Trump's comments "smashed" diplomatic convention.

"Trump has smashed one of the most sacred conventions of diplomacy," Meyer wrote in The Times, "that a head of state does not interfere in the internal affairs of the country which he or she is visiting. Trump needs to be very careful."

Diplomatic convention could be challenged again over the coming days. The trip is geared toward pageantry rather than politics, but there are numerous potential flashpoints ahead.

Twitter Screenshot

Trump, who will meet several members of the royal family, has also raised headlines by describing Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex and an American, as "nasty" in Saturday's Sun interview.

He later denied saying "I didn't know that she was nasty" despite the remark being recorded, but it could make for an tense atmosphere when he joins Markle's father-in-law, Prince Charles, for tea on Monday.

The U.S. president's state visit may not see major progress on the big issues of the day, but it's guaranteed to make headlines nevertheless.