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Category Archives: WPTF News

In Britain, Trump basks in a display of regal splendor with King Charles III at Windsor Castle

In Britain, Trump basks in a display of regal splendor with King Charles III at Windsor Castle

By DANICA KIRKA, JILL LAWLESS, MICHELLE L. PRICE and WILL WEISSERT Associated Press

WINDSOR, England (AP) — President Donald Trump relished the glow of a British royal spectacle as he opened a two-day state visit Wednesday, calling the hours of pageantry with King Charles III â€śone of the highest honors of my life” while also making time for a quiet tribute at Queen Elizabeth II’s tomb.

The grandeur-loving president soaked up all the revelry, from the largest guard of honor in living memory — with 120 horses and 1,300 troops — to carriage rides, an air show and a Windsor Castle state dinner.

President Donald Trump is relishing a day filled with British royal pageantry with King Charles III. (AP video by Mike Pesoli)

After the pomp comes the real work Thursday, when Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer meet to talk trade, technology and geopolitical issues.

No U.S. president, or any other world leader, has had the honor of a second U.K. state visit; Trump’s first was in 2019, during his previous term. The display of regal splendor was meant to bolster ties with Trump at a time when his America First policies are putting pressure on trade and security arrangements around the globe.

“This was the second state visit, and that’s the first, and maybe that’s going to be the last time, I hope it is actually,” Trump joked during the evening banquet.

The visit began with Prince William and his wife, Kate, meeting the presidential helicopter in the private Walled Garden on the vast Windsor estate, then walking Trump and first lady Melania Trump over to be greeted by Charles and Queen Camilla. A gigantic royal standard, the flag used for official celebration days, flew from the Royal Tower.

The guests traveled to the castle in a procession of horse-drawn carriages, past ranks of soldiers, sailors and aviators. The king and the Republican president chatted in the Irish State Coach during the short journey to the castle quadrangle, where both inspected an honor guard of soldiers in red tunics and bearskin hats.

They continued to chat and joke as the day progressed, with the king occasionally putting his hand on Trump’s back. The president stepped in front of Charles during a review of troops after the king gestured for him to do so. The king’s invitation avoided a violation of protocol, which was not the case in 2019, when Trump stepped in front of Queen Elizabeth.

Part of the day was spent at St. George’s Chapel on the castle grounds, where Trump placed a wreath in honor of Elizabeth, who died in 2022.

A full day of pomp and circumstance

The president and Charles toured the Royal Collection Display in an ornate room where officials laid out five tables of artifacts on U.S.-British relations.

Among the items were 18th-century watercolors and documents on the United States seeking independence from King George III. There were materials from the first trans-Atlantic cable, including messages between Queen Victoria and President James Buchanan, as well as a 1930s hot dog picnic that a young Elizabeth wrote about, and a large glass vessel that President Dwight D. Eisenhower gave the queen during a 1957 state visit.

The president later walked a red carpet on the castle’s East Lawn to watch the Beating Retreat, a military parade ceremony that featured 200-plus musicians, dates to the 1600s and was once used to call patrolling soldiers back to their castle at day’s end.


King Charles praised the “special relationship” between the UK and the US during his royal banquet toast, held for the occasion of US President Donald Trump’s state visit. (AP Video)

A scheduled flyover by F-35 jets from the U.K. and U.S. militaries was scrapped because of poor weather conditions. But the Red Arrows, the Royal Air Force’s aerobatics display team, thundered overhead, leaving streaks of red, white and blue smoke in their wake.

Charles and Camilla presented the president and first lady with a handbound leather volume celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, as well as the Union flag that flew above Buckingham Palace on the day of Trump’s inauguration in January. The royals also gave first lady Melania Trump a silver and enamel bowl and a personalized handbag by British designer Anya Hindmarch.

Trump gave Charles a replica of an Eisenhower sword, and Camilla received a vintage Tiffany & Co. gold, diamond and ruby brooch.

Serious talks coming

The history, tradition and celebrity of the royal family give it a cachet that means presidents and prime ministers covet joining them. In his talks with Trump, Starmer will promote a new U.K.-U.S. technology agreement. The British government hopes the deal, and billions in investment from U.S. tech companies, will help show that the trans-Atlantic bond remains strong despite differences over Ukraine, the Middle East and the future of NATO.

Ahead of the banquet, Trump and Charles walked together, leading a procession. Trump wore white tie, while his wife was in a yellow gown. Charles was in white tie with a blue sash, and Camilla in a blue gown with a tiara.

Beefeaters in traditional red uniforms and ruff collars lined the entrance to the castle’s St. George’s Hall for the dinner, which featured 100 staff members attending to 160 guests. The grand Waterloo table was set with 1,462 pieces of silver sparkling in the light from 139 candles and elaborate floral arrangements handpicked from the castle grounds.

The guests included Apple’s Tim Cook, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Open AI’s Sam Altman and golfer Nick Faldo. Also appearing was publishing mogul Rupert Murdoch, whom Trump recently sued for $10 billion over The Wall Street Journal’s report on a sexually suggestive letter purportedly written by Trump for disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.

The menu featured Hampshire watercress panna cotta with Parmesan shortbread and quail egg salad, along with Norfolk chicken ballotine. Dessert was vanilla ice cream bombe with a raspberry sherbet interior and lightly poached Victorian plums.

Trump avoids alcohol, but the bar offerings included a cocktail known as a trans-Atlantic whiskey sour infused with marmalade, Warre’s 1945 Vintage Port — Trump is the 45th and 47th American president — and Hennessy 1912 cognac Grande Champagne. That was the year Trump’s mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, was born in Scotland.

The musical playlist included the theme from the James Bond movies and pop and rock staples, as well as top show tunes, often featured at Trump’s campaign rallies.

In his toast, Charles saluted Trump’s British roots and his recent visits to the U.K. In a nod to the president’s favorite sport, he said, “I understand that British soil makes for rather splendid golf courses.”

Trump mostly stuck to his prepared remarks and was on his best behavior, declaring, “This is truly one of the highest honors of my life” and sneaking in only one dig about his predecessor, Democratic President Joe Biden, by saying the U.S. was “sick” a year ago. He also touched on Britain’s contributions to literature, history and the arts and said “special” does not begin to do justice to his country’s relationship with the U.K.

“Together we’ve done more good for humanity than any two countries in all of history,” Trump said.

Trump being in Windsor doesn’t stop protests

Thousands of demonstrators marched through central London on Wednesday to protest Trump’s visit. Some held banners that said “No to the racism, no to Trump.” Though the activities were smaller than during Trump’s visit in June 2019, they included mini versions of the giant Trump baby blimp, an orange-tinted caricature of the president in a diaper that made a big impression during those demonstrations six years ago.

In Windsor, protesters projected an image of Trump and Epstein on a tower at the castle, a reminder of the president’s relationship with the late American financier. Police said they arrested four people.

___

Lawless and Price reported from London and Weissert from Washington.

Starbucks workers sue over company’s new dress code

Starbucks workers sue over company’s new dress code

Starbucks workers are taking legal action against the coffee giant, saying it violated the law when it changed its dress code but refused to reimburse employees who had to buy new clothes. The employees are backed by the union organizing Starbucks’ workers. They filed class-action lawsuits in state court in Illinois and Colorado Wednesday, and complaints with California’s labor agency. Starbucks’ new dress code went into effect May 12. The company has said its dress code will create a sense of familiarity with customers and make stores more welcoming. But some employees say they had to spend more than $100 on new clothes.… Continue Reading

ABC suspends Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show indefinitely over his remarks about Charlie Kirk’s death

ABC suspends Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show indefinitely over his remarks about Charlie Kirk’s death

NEW YORK (AP) — ABC has suspended Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show indefinitely following comments he made about Charlie Kirk’s killing. The network’s decision came Nexstar announced its ABC affiliates would preempt “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” indefinitely over his comments. A spokesperson for Kimmel did not immediately return a call for comment. Kimmel, like CBS late-night host Stephen Colbert, has consistently been critical of President Donald Trump and many of his policies on his ABC show. CBS said this past summer that it was canceling Colbert’s show at the end of this season for financial reasons, although some critics have wondered if his stance on Trump played a role.… Continue Reading

Federal Reserve cuts key rate by quarter-point and signals two more cuts this year

Federal Reserve cuts key rate by quarter-point and signals two more cuts this year

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve cut its key interest rate by a quarter-point Wednesday and projected it would do so twice more this year as concern grows at the central bank about the health of the nation’s labor market. The move is the Fed’s first cut since December and lowered its short-term rate to about 4.1%, down from 4.3%. Fed officials, led by Chair Jerome Powell, had kept their rate unchanged this year as they evaluated the impact of tariffs, tighter immigration enforcement, and other Trump administration policies on inflation and the economy. The only dissenter was Stephen Miran, the recent Trump-appointee.… Continue Reading

Fired CDC chief Susan Monarez warns senators that RFK Jr. is endangering public health

Fired CDC chief Susan Monarez warns senators that RFK Jr. is endangering public health

WASHINGTON (AP) — Fired Centers for Disease Control and Prevention chief Susan Monarez is warning senators America’s public health system is headed to a “dangerous place” under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his anti-vaccine advisers. Monarez and ex-CDC official Debra Houry describe exchanges in which Kennedy or political advisers rebuffed data supporting vaccine safety and efficacy. Monarez told the Senate health committee Wednesday deadly diseases including polio are poised to make a comeback in the U.S. Monarez says Kennedy demanded she “preapprove” recommendations from a CDC panel or face termination. The panel is expected to vote on new vaccine guidelines this week in Atlanta. Kennedy denies Monarez’s accusations he ordered “rubber-stamped” vaccine recommendations.… Continue Reading

Another beachfront stilt house collapses into the surf on the Outer Banks

Another beachfront stilt house collapses into the surf on the Outer Banks

BUXTON, N.C. (AP) — The Atlantic Ocean has claimed another beach house on the fragile Outer Banks. The home that collapsed Tuesday afternoon in Buxton, North Carolina, is the 12th to succumb to the surf since May 2020. An official with the Cape Hatteras National Seashore says the house was unoccupied. The other 11 were all in the village of Rodanthe, a few miles north. The barrier islands have been eroding amid sea level rise for years. The famed Cape Hatteras Lighthouse was moved inland in 1999.… Continue Reading

Amazon Prime Video will stream the Masters for the first time beginning next year

Amazon Prime Video will stream the Masters for the first time beginning next year

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Amazon Prime Video will stream two hours of coverage during the first and second rounds of the Masters beginning next year. The Masters will stream on Prime Video from 1-3 p.m. Eastern daily on April 9 and 10, leading into ESPN’s coverage both days from 3-7:30 p.m. Paramount+ will stream the third and fourth rounds on April 11 and 12 from noon-2 p.m. Eastern before CBS takes over beginning at 2 p.m. With the addition of Prime Video, primary broadcast and streaming coverage of the Masters will be at least 27 hours, up from 18 hours last year.… Continue Reading

Retail sales up 0.6% in August from July even as tariffs hurt jobs and lead to price hikes

Retail sales up 0.6% in August from July even as tariffs hurt jobs and lead to price hikes

NEW YORK (AP) — Shoppers increased their spending at a better-than-expected pace in August from July, helped by back-to-school purchases, even as President Donald Trump’s tariffs are starting to hurt the job market and lead to price hikes. The performance was also helped by the continued efforts by Americans to keep pushing up purchases ahead of expected price increases. Retail sales rose 0.6% last month from July, when sales were up a revised 0.6%, according to the Commerce Department’s report released Tuesday.… Continue Reading

Israel’s military begins its ground offensive in Gaza City and thousands of residents flee

Israel’s military begins its ground offensive in Gaza City and thousands of residents flee

JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israeli military has begun its ground offensive in Gaza City, slowly closing in on the Palestinian territory’s largest city. Tuesday’s operation marked another escalation in the war. Thousands of people streamed out of the city in vehicles laden with their belongings, but hundreds of thousands more remain. The conflict has already decimated much of the Gaza Strip and roiled the Middle East for nearly two years, and the new operation likely pushes any ceasefire farther out of reach. The military wouldn’t offer a timeline for the offensive, but Israeli media suggested it could take months. The military says it aims to “destroy Hamas’ military infrastructure.”… Continue Reading

Robert Redford, Oscar-winning actor, director and indie patriarch, dies at 89

Robert Redford, Oscar-winning actor, director and indie patriarch, dies at 89

Robert Redford has died at 89. The Hollywood golden boy who became an Oscar-winning director, liberal activist and godfather for independent cinema died in Utah on Tuesday. His publicist didn’t immediately provide a cause of death. After rising to stardom in the 1960s, Redford was one of the biggest stars of the ’70s with such films as “The Candidate,” “All the President’s Men” and “The Way We Were.” Redford played the wily outlaw opposite Paul Newman in 1969’s “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” a box-office smash from which Redford’s Sundance Institute and festival got its name.… Continue Reading

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