Trump on tour: pomp, pageantry and politics

Politics Weekly UK

The Guardian

News, Politics

4.0 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 17 September 2025

⏱️ 31 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Donald Trump is back on UK soil for his ‘unprecedented’ second state visit. Will the US president’s trip help to distract from Keir Starmer’s challenges at home? Or could it leave the prime minister even more exposed? Kiran Stacey asks the columnist and Politics Weekly America host, Jonathan Freedland Send your thoughts and questions to politicsweeklyuk@theguardian.com. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	This is The Guardian.
0:08.7	The most powerful tool ever created for bringing the world together, the global open internet,
0:14.7	risks being dismantled amidst the looming threat of AI and political conflict.
0:19.9	In my new book, How to Save the Internet, written by me,
0:23.6	Nick Clegg, I set out a blueprint for the global cooperation needed to reform big tech while preserving
0:30.5	the fundamental openness of the internet on which our future depends. How to Save the Internet is out now
0:37.4	in hardback, audio and e-book.
0:45.6	Donald Trump is in the UK. And as he flew in on Air Force One, he had some advice for the
0:51.3	travelling press pack, and maybe all of us, too. It's going to be a beautiful event. Everyone's looking forward to.
0:57.0	We'll just relax and have a good time.
1:00.0	But is everyone really looking forward to it?
1:04.0	Trump!
1:05.0	Out!
1:06.0	Out!
1:07.0	Trump's visit, along with all the pageantry and state banquets, comes at a challenging moment for Kier Stama.
1:14.5	So will it distract from the crisis at home or leave the Prime Minister even more exposed than before?
1:20.9	I'm Kieran Stacey, and you're listening to Politics Weekly for The Guardian.
1:28.8	I'm joined now by Jonathan Friedland,
1:30.9	the host of our sister podcast, Politics Weekly America.
1:33.8	Johnny, thanks for joining us.
1:35.1	Good to be with you, Karen.
1:36.2	Well, it's a great moment for our two podcasts to tie up
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from The Guardian, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of The Guardian and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.