Donald Trump's 'Tremendous Crowds Of Well-Wishers' - In Pictures

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Donald Trump has praised the “tremendous crowds of well-wishers” that have lined the streets of London to greet him for his much-anticipated UK state visit.

Only there’s a slight problem - his words and the pictorial evidence don’t exactly match up.

The US president, who is currently on a three-day state visit, made the claim on Twitter whilst praising the “fantastic” royal family and the “very strong” relationship between the UK and the US.

London part of trip is going really well. The Queen and the entire Royal family have been fantastic. The relationship with the United Kingdom is very strong. Tremendous crowds of well wishers and people that love our Country. Haven’t seen any protests yet, but I’m sure the....

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 3, 2019

Thousands of people are taking to the streets on Tuesday, but rather than supporting the US president they are protesting his stance on climate change, women’s rights and immigration.

Pictures of Trump’s arrival and the procession of his motorcade down the Mall show long stretches of almost bare pavement...

PA Wire/PA Images

There was one overtly pro-Trump gathering outside Buckingham Palace but pictures suggest attendance was just in the double figures.

REUTERS/Henry Nicholls

Elsewhere the “tremendous crowds” were only one deep.

ADRIAN DENNIS via Getty Images

And some of the areas on the route were solely staffed by police officers.

PA Wire/PA Images

One of the few fans present, Neil Clark, 39, from Woolwich in south London, described Trump as “amazing”.

He said he was a “massive fan”, adding: “Just his character, the energy he has, the passion he has. He’s an amazing guy.”

Clark described the prospect of protests against Trump as “quite disrespectful” and “quite shameful”.

Only a handful of American flags can be seen as Trump drives down the Mall.
Only a handful of American flags can be seen as Trump drives down the Mall.
Aaron Chown - PA Images via Getty Images

Undeterred by the poor turnout in support of him, the US president with a well-documented dubious relationship with the truth has been trying his best to put a positive spin on things since arriving yesterday morning.

London part of trip is going really well. The Queen and the entire Royal family have been fantastic. The relationship with the United Kingdom is very strong. Tremendous crowds of well wishers and people that love our Country. Haven’t seen any protests yet, but I’m sure the....

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 3, 2019
Police battle to hold back the crowds.
Police battle to hold back the crowds.
Toby Melville / Reuters

Speaking about the planned protests, he said: "....Fake News will be working hard to find them. Great love all around. Also, big Trade Deal is possible once U.K. gets rid of the shackles.

“Already starting to talk!”

....Fake News will be working hard to find them. Great love all around. Also, big Trade Deal is possible once U.K. gets rid of the shackles. Already starting to talk!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 3, 2019

Far larger crowds are gathering on Tuesday as anti-Trump demonstrations take to the streets of the capital.

Jeremy Corbyn will be among the headline speakers at a demonstration which is due to end in Parliament Square, just yards from the US president’s meeting with Theresa May in Downing Street.

It will be the first time ever that the official leader of the Opposition has joined protests during any State Visit, let alone one with a traditional ally like the United States.

PA Wire/PA Images

Corbyn has already decided to boycott a State Banquet with Trump and the Queen at Buckingham Palace on Monday evening.

In typical style, Trump sparked controversy before he had even landed in the UK on Monday, branding London Mayor Sadiq Khan a “stone cold loser” in a tweet sent from Air Force One moments before it touched down.

.@SadiqKhan, who by all accounts has done a terrible job as Mayor of London, has been foolishly “nasty” to the visiting President of the United States, by far the most important ally of the United Kingdom. He is a stone cold loser who should focus on crime in London, not me......

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 3, 2019
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