Luke Pollard, recently promoted by Sir Keir Starmer in last week’s reshuffle, had previously voiced strong criticism over the idea of the US president visiting Plymouth, saying he “incites violence … without any understanding of the consequences.”
Back in 2016, writing for the People’s Republic of South Devon website, Pollard asked: “Will 2017 be the year when the official invite for President Trump to visit Plymouth will be sent? I can think of few people I’d like to visit our city less than a man who insults, incites violence and uses racism and homophobia without any understanding of the consequences. But he is the US president, I guess…”
When asked about those remarks on Monday, Pollard, who was promoted within the Ministry of Defence on Saturday, told Nick Ferrari on LBC: “Oh, I think you might be looking at my Twitter feed there, Nick. I mean, to be honest, Nick, if you’ve read my Twitter feed, I probably regret quite a lot of things I’ve written in the past.”
Pollard went on to emphasise that the US remains “one of our key strategic allies, and we’re looking forward to welcoming the president on our state visit to the UK.” He added: “The work we’re doing with the US is absolutely vital, and the agreement we’ve signed on a trade deal with the US will create jobs in both our nations. I’ve got a good working relationship with our US counterparts. And although our politics are slightly different — I’m on the centre-Left, others are on the centre-Right — we do share values on some things.”
Previously, Pollard served as parliamentary under-secretary for the armed forces. His promotion came as part of the Prime Minister’s reshuffle following the resignation of former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner over her tax affairs.
Pollard has in the past called Trump a “post-fact president” and described comments the US leader made about journalist Megyn Kelly as “vile” on X. During a 2016 feud, Trump referred to Kelly as “nasty” and made a remark widely interpreted as a reference to menstruation, saying “there was blood coming out of her wherever.” That same year, Pollard also advocated for “Trekkers against Trump,” writing that “Trump’s beliefs are the opposite of what #startrek is all about.”
Donald Trump’s state visit
Trump is set to visit the UK next week for a second-term state visit. Sir Keir described the invitation as “unprecedented” when it was extended by the King in February. According to The Telegraph, the president will not address Parliament, as the visit is deliberately scheduled during a mid-September parliamentary recess.
King Charles is expected to host Trump at Windsor Castle with a full ceremonial welcome, though he is not expected to visit Buckingham Palace, which is currently undergoing refurbishment.
Pollard is not alone in having previously expressed criticism of the US leader.
‘The bully pulpit’
David Lammy, newly promoted to Deputy Prime Minister after serving as foreign secretary, described Trump in 2018 as a “woman-hating, neo-Nazi sympathising sociopath.” Asked about the comment in January on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Lammy acknowledged the president “had incredible grace, generosity, very keen to be a good host, very funny, very, very friendly, very warm.”
Yvette Cooper, the incoming Foreign Secretary reshuffled from her role as home secretary, said in a 2017 Fabian Society speech that Trump “built his campaign for the presidency on vitriol and abuse.” She continued: “The aggressive misogyny, the violent language towards Hillary Clinton, the Islamophobia, the xenophobia, the hatred — these aren’t just harmless rants from a sad man in his bedroom. This is the bully pulpit of the most powerful man on the planet.”
Cooper also wrote on X in 2020: “Watching Trump in recent days has been truly, truly chilling,” and in 2018, she posted: “For God’s sake, Theresa, stand up to him today.”
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A Foreign Office source said: “The Government is looking forward to welcoming President Trump and the US delegation for his historic second state visit next week. The Foreign Secretary will play a key role throughout. As Home Secretary, she worked closely with the Trump administration on a range of security and migration-related issues.”
Cooper was originally scheduled to welcome Kristi Noem, the president’s homeland security secretary, to a ministerial summit in London today, but the task was instead taken up by Shabana Mahmood, who replaced Cooper as Home Secretary on Friday, according to telegraph.
