Zack Polanksi says he feels ‘really sorry for the King’ over Trump visit
Green Party leader Zack Polanski says he feels “sorry for the King” for being sent to the US to meet President Donald Trump and blames Sir Keir Starmer for putting him in this situation.
This comes as security concerns intensify following what the White House called an assassination attempt on the president at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington.
The incident has reignited debate over whether the King and Queen will travel to the US.
Speaking in Newcastle, Mr Polanski said: “I actually feel really sorry for the King, as I feel sorry that he is being held up as some kind of privilege for Donald Trump.
“It’s important to put things in perspective; just a few weeks ago Donald Trump posted on the social media platform Truth Social: ‘An entire civilization could be destroyed tonight, it doesn’t have to happen, but it probably could.’
“This is not a man we should consider as an ally or have a special relationship with.
“This is a guy we need to sanction and make sure we condemn.
“And why is Keir Starmer so submissive to Donald Trump, despite the fact that King Charles has to go to such a terrible parade?
“Of course we should have diplomatic relations with the president, of course we should discuss many issues with him.
“But sending King Charles there to meet him as if he were a friend or an ally will be difficult for many Brits to watch and, as with so many of Keir Starmer’s decisions, they will wonder why he made that decision.”
Buckingham Palace announced Sunday that Charles’ visit to Washington will go ahead largely as planned. But it appears there will be some modest operational adjustments to one or two royal engagements.
This historic visit, the King’s first to the United States as a monarch, will mark the 250th anniversary of American independence and herald the beginning of celebrations across the United States.
The royal couple, who will begin their visit with a private tea hosted by the president and his wife, will also commemorate the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks that destroyed the New York Twin Towers.
Mr. Polanski has said he personally “doesn’t have time” for the monarchy.
“We live in the richest country in the world,” he said.
“While rich people are getting richer than ever before, people are struggling and nurses are queuing at food banks.
“I don’t think that’s a good symbol.”
