‘Go Away’: Major Anti-Trump Demonstration Unfolds in London as Protesters Rally Against President’s U.K. State Visit

LONDON — Thousands of protesters gathered in central London on Wednesday to protest President Donald Trump’s second U.K. state visit, with demonstrations starting around 2 p.m. local time as part of a coordinated day of action led by the Stop Trump Coalition. Demonstrators moved toward Parliament Square, carrying signs with slogans such as “Go away, Trump” and “Stop Trump,” and some waved Palestinian flags as they called for an end to the Israel-Hamas war. The protest drew participants from climate-activism and gender-equality groups, among others, who joined alongside longtime anti-Trump opponents and first-time demonstrators.

Protesters carried signs bearing slogans such as “Go away, Trump” and “Stop Trump,” and some waved Palestinian flags as they urged an end to the Israel-Hamas war. The demonstrators said they were joined by climate-activism and gender-equality groups, and they moved toward Parliament Square. A number of “Baby Trump” replica balloons were visible above the crowd in central London. “We want our government to show some backbone, and have a little bit of pride and represent that huge feeling of disgust at Donald Trump’s politics in the UK,” said Zoe Gardner, one of the protest organizers, in an interview with the BBC. “We have heard from people across the political spectrum who will be joining in the protest today, because the majority agree that we should not be rolling out the red carpet for Donald Trump. The large numbers of people marching today are telling [UK Prime Minister Keir] Starmer and his government that they must stand up to Trump,” a Stop Trump Coalition spokesperson told TIME.

A broader wave of actions was anticipated, with the coalition saying protests would begin around 6 p.m. across the rest of the United Kingdom in cities such as Manchester, Liverpool, Cardiff and Newcastle, expanding the day of demonstrations beyond the capital. The day’s demonstrations reflected the organizers’ aim to cast a wide net and to signal domestic opposition to the state visit as a symbol of U.S. policy abroad.

In Windsor, activist group Led by Donkeys projected large-scale images of Trump and the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein onto Windsor Castle minutes after the president landed in London on Tuesday night. Thames Valley Police arrested four people on suspicion of malicious communications in relation to the stunt. Earlier, on Monday, protesters unfurled a banner bearing an image of Trump and Epstein on the Windsor Castle lawn; the banner was removed prior to Trump’s arrival.

The protests come as Trump participates in a U.K. state visit that has drawn intense scrutiny and counter-demonstrations across the country. Observers noted that the demonstrations aimed to highlight concerns about Trump’s policies and rhetoric, while supporters of the visit argued for continued U.K.-U.S. ties. The events unfolded amid broader geopolitical and domestic political debates, with organizers stressing that the opposition to the visit crosses traditional political lines and reflects a range of grievances about U.S. foreign and domestic policy.

The London protest occurred in the context of ongoing public demonstrations that organizers described as part of a coordinated set of actions across the U.K. The Stop Trump Coalition said additional protests would begin around 6 p.m. local time in other cities, signaling a nationwide mobilization that sought to channel opposition to the visit into a broader message about accountability, human rights and international leadership. While some demonstrators used the day to express specific policy disagreements, others framed the protest as part of a longer-running critique of Trump’s approach to diplomacy, climate change, and global governance.

In Windsor, security and legal authorities moved quickly to address the actions surrounding the symbols projected onto the castle and the banners displayed on the grounds. The police indicated they would continue to monitor demonstrations and enforce applicable laws as the state visit progressed.

Overall, the day highlighted how public demonstrations in the United Kingdom have continued to evolve around high-profile international visits, drawing participants from a spectrum of social and political movements. As organizers planned for additional actions across the country, observers noted that the protests reflected a broader discourse about leadership, accountability, and the role of protest in shaping foreign policy discussions on the world stage.