When she visited this country shortly after Donald Trump was sworn in, British Prime Minister Theresa May extended an invitation to Trump for a state visit to Great Britain, and Trump accepted. The visit will take place later this year (even though millions of Brits signed a petition asking the government to withdraw the invitation).
Normally, when a U.S. President visits Great Britain, they are invited to address the Parliament. It is considered an honor -- both for Parliament to hear the president speak and for the president to be invited to address Parliament. But that is an honor that Donald Trump will NOT get.
About 163 members of Parliament had signed a motion opposing allowing Trump to speak to the Parliament, and this week the House of Commons Speaker (John Bercow) answered a point of order by saying the following:
What I will say is this: an address by a foreign leader to both Houses of Parliament is not an automatic right, it is an earned honour.
Before the imposition of the migrant ban, I would myself have been strongly opposed to an address by President Trump in Westminster Hall.
After the imposition of the migrant ban by President Trump I am even more strongly opposed to an address by President Trump in Westminster Hall.
We value our relationship with the United States; if a state visit takes place that is way beyond and above the pay grade of the Speaker.
However, as far as this place is concerned I feel very strongly that our opposition to racism and to sexism and our support for equality before the law and an independent judiciary are hugely important considerations in the House of Commons.
Bercow does have the authority to deny Trump the invitation to speak to Parliament as one of three "key holders" to the building in which Parliament meets. And he cannot be overruled by the Prime Minister.
This is a serious blow to the oversized ego of Donald Trump. Maybe it will help him realize that he cannot ride roughshod over this country or the world.
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