Trump shrugs off Farage's call for parliament to be recalled so he can address MPs during state visit
Date: 2025-07-15T07:36:04.000Z
Title: Donald Trump
Content: Good morning. has given an interview to the BBC's chief North America correspondent, Gary O'Donoghue, and, while the most important lines are about Russia, it contains some interesting snippets about the UK. Trump is making an unprecedented second state visit in September and yesterday a mini Westminster row broke out about the timing of the trip (starting just after the Commons starts its conference season recess), and the fact this means Trump isn't being invited to give a speech to MPs and peers.
No 10 implied yesterday that this was just a scheduling coincidence – and nothing to do with the fact that some parliamentarians are bitterly opposed to hosting Trump, who is widely reviled as a threat to American democracy.
Yesterday Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, said (to GB News, of course) that parliament should be recalled so that Trump could get the chance to speak in the Royal Gallery or Westminster Hall (the venues normally used for these events).
But, when O'Donoghue asked Trump about this, he discovered that the US president doesn't agree with Farage, and isn't bothered about the prospect of not getting the President Macron treatment.
Asked if he would like parliament to be recalled so he could make a speech there, Trump replied:
I think let them go and have a good time [ie, let MPs have their recess]. I don't want that to …
Asked what he wanted to achieve from the state visit, Trump said:
I think just we I want to have a good time and respect to King Charles because he's a great gentleman.
We have not heard Farage's reaction yet. His X feed still has this video near the top, featuring the Reform UK leader calling for the recall of parliament.
Parliament must be recalled for 's state visit to the UK.Why does @Keir_Starmer think Macron is a better friend of Britain than Trump? pic.twitter.com/J8rdCFXuI2
Trump's response suggests Farage might be less in touch with the views of the president, and the Maga movement, than he sometimes claims. And, given Trump's unpopularity in the UK generally, it is probably not wise for Farage to appear even more sensitive to any slights to Trump's dignity than the man himself.
I will post more from the interview soon.
Here is the agenda for the day.
9.30am: Keir Starmer chairs cabinet.
9.30am: Rachel Reeves, chancellor, announces a package of reforms to financial services in Leeds.
9.30am: James Cleverly, the former Tory home secretary, gives a speech to the IPPR thinktank.
9.30am: The Department for Work and Pensions publishes universal credit claim figures, including for the first time details of foreign nationals getting UC.
10am: Sir Adrian Montague, chair of Thames Water, and Chris Weston, its chief executive, give evidence to the Commons environment committee.
10.15am: Richard Hughes, chair of the Office for Budget Responsibility, and colleagues give evidence to the Commons Treasury committee about the OBR's fiscal risks report.
Noon: Downing Street holds a lobby briefing.
After 12.30pm: MPs start debates on two Tory opposition day motions. The first one calls for the two-child benefit cap to stay, and the second one calls on the government to commit to uprating tax thresholds in line with inflation and to rule out new taxes on savings, homes and pensions.
Also today, the Department for Education is publishing new guidance on sex education.
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