US President Donald Trump embarked on a state visit to the UK on Tuesday — flying in with dozens of staffers and some serious hardware. The POTUS will descend on London with high-security cars and a fleet of helicopters on board Air Force One for a stay in Windsor Castle. The two-day trip also comes complete with horse-drawn carriages, military honor guards, and a glittering banquet inside the 1,000-year-old royal home — all tailored to a president with a fondness for gilded splendor.
Multiple reports indicate that the many measures required to keep a US President safe during such a visit will cost millions of pounds and involve his own Secret Service detail as well as thousands of local police officers. Trump had previously made a state visit to the UK during his first term — costing the UK more than £14 million in security bills alone.
Customised cars and fleet of helicopters
Trump will arrive in London on a customised high-spec aircraft before taking to the streets on Cadillac One — an enhanced limousine dubbed as The Beast. Two identical versions of the presidential vehicle as well as several other Secret Service cars were flown to the UK on military cargo planes ahead of his arrival.
Visit to cost UK millions of pounds
According to reports, more than 6,000 Metropolitan Police officers were deployed at an estimated cost of £3.4 million during the 2019 visit of Donald Trump. The total security bill exceeded £14 million and included deploying forces from across the UK to manage his four-day stay. There had also been additional costs incurred for specialised security operations, personnel, equipment, airspace restrictions, and other logistical support. The figure is separate from all costs that were incurred by the US government to facilitate the trip.
The 2019 state visit of Donald Trump was one of the most expensive security operations in recent UK history and sparked widespread criticism. Expenses are likely to be even higher for the visit this week due to inflation and heightened security measures.