Are you excited for President Donald Trump’s forthcoming state visit to the UK?

[Juliette96]

How will you mark the occasion? Cheering him on as he parades through London? Trying to catch a glance? Not caring? Etc

Exactly. It's basic diplomacy. America is a powerful ally and we need to keep on good terms with them. That doesn't mean we have to tolerate disrespect, or acquiesce to their every demand, but we need a good working relationship. The two heads of state have to be able to sit down and have a drink together, no matter how different they may be, or we'll never get anywhere.

The moral purity that people would prefer is just not always possible in politics. Churchill had to fly out to Russia and stay up late boozing it up with Stalin and his cronies. He had to turn a blind eye to all the listening devices hidden in his quarters when he visited America. The relationship between all three nations was frequently contentious, but we needed Russian manpower at the Eastern Front, and we needed US food and weapons to keep the fight going once our own reserves ran dry. We needed both nations onside to defeat Hitler, and it ended being a good thing we didn't burn those bridges over minor insults.

You can't take a "block and stay safe" approach to statesmanship. People can protest all they want, but Starmer and the royals are doing their job by trying to foster a better relationship with America. I don't know what else anyone expects them to do.

There may come a time when we're all grateful for it.