LONDON—A pub in west London will temporarily rename itself the ‘Trump Arms’ to honour President Donald Trump’s visit to the UK.
The pub, called The Jameson, will host an event of Trump-themed celebrations on July 14 with American-themed food and drink to welcome the president to the country.
The welcoming event in the pub is in contrast to the large scale protests expected in the capital during the president’s visit.
London’s Mayor Sadiq Khan on Thursday gave permission for a blimp of Trump that depicts the president as an orange, angry baby to be flown over Westminster.
“The American people who actually voted him [Trump] into the office will be hurt by that,” said Damien Smyth, landlord of the Hammersmith pub.
The Irish landlord said he had to take “the bull by the horns” because of all the anti-Trump protests that he felt would be detrimental to the relationship between the UK and America.
Damien Smyth at The Jameson, Hammersmith, west London. The Irish landlord has been inundated with press interviews. (Jane Gray)“We need to see that the relationship isn’t damaged after these protests,” he said.
He added, “The man is not perfect in any way. Like the rest of us, we’re not perfect, and Clinton wasn’t perfect either.”
Smyth, 53, who has been inundated with press interviews over the last two days, said he was surprised by the amount of calls of support he’s received from young people about the celebration.
“I’m just absolutely astounded,” said Smyth, whose wife is from New York.
The Jameson in Hammersmith, west London will temporarily re-name their pub ‘The Trump Arms’ to welcome President Trump to the UK. (Damien Smyth)“We want to portray to the American public, who voted for him and who made him president, that not everybody is against him in this country,” he said.
Local, Patrick Sullivan, who volunteered to organise the event, said, “One of the great things about British politics is, politics and the pub go together, very much so.”
“This is a real grassroots celebration for the U.S. president,” said Sullivan, who runs the conservative leaning think tank Parliament Street.
Smyth said he hopes that he’ll have the chance to thank President Trump.
“I know the man doesn’t drink but sure, we could make him a cup of tea. He’s very welcome and we’d love to see him, because we can just thank him for making the world safe again.”
Tickets to the welcome party cost £32, and several high profile people from the UK and Britain have been invited, according to Smyth.
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