The Mexican president rode in the state carriage in 2015 but President Obama chose to spare his hosts the security nightmare. Mr Trump faces a more severe threat in October. TOBY MELVILLE/AFP/Getty Images.
The Tiny Toddler Tyrant is having a tantrum over riding in the Queen’s gold carriage when he visits London. Needless to say, it’s a security nightmare in the best of times, and these are not the best of times. President Obama waived this bit of pomp in order to spare everyone said security nightmare, but Tiny Toddler Trump? Oh no, he wants his carriage ride. A gold carriage? Why, that just has “Trump” written all over it, right?
Donald Trump waving from the Queen’s royal carriage is not a scenario many would have foreseen a year ago, but it has become a very real prospect, forcing security services to plan an unprecedented lockdown.
The White House has made clear it regards the carriage procession down the Mall as an essential element of the itinerary for the visit currently planned for the second week of October, according to officials.
Security sources have warned, however, that the procession will require a “monster” security operation, far greater than for any recent state visit.
Essential? No, it’s not essential. President Obama showed that it was no such thing, and had a wonderful visit. This is a capsule portrait of the monstrous toddler currently loose in the white house. He wants what he wants when he wants it, there’s zero possibility of acting like a godsdamn adult. Yet another 70something white man who thinks the world is his little plaything on a gold platter. Naturally, there isn’t one single thing on this planet which is more important, and essential than Tiny Trump getting his gold carriage ride.
British security services are balking, saying the president’s wish is presenting them with “monster” problems is helping to keep the U.S. president safe.
London Metropolitan Police have already been making plans for Trump’s visit, expecting tens of thousands of protesters to descend on the procession route. Their preference is for Trump to make use of a bullet and bomb-proof car that was previously used by former President Barack Obama.
“The vehicle which carries the president of the United States is a spectacular vehicle. It is designed to withstand a massive attack like a low-level rocket grenade,” a police source explained. “If he’s in that vehicle he is incredibly well protected and on top of that it can travel at enormous speed. If he is in a golden coach being dragged up the Mall by a couple of horses, the risk factor is dramatically increased.”
Perhaps they should consider spraying the merely spectacular vehicle with gold paint, and having horses trot along in front.
Via The Times of London and Raw Story.
Tell him if he rides in the bullet-proof limo they will let him toot the horn and pretend to drive. Promise chocolate cake for being a good boy. You just have to know how to deal with world leaders who are in control of the world’s largest nuclear weapons stock.
They could just let him sit in it at its garage and take pictures.
… having horses trot along in front.
Trump would think he was looking in a double mirror.
Well, Trump is a real asshole. As in he is shitty and makes a great stink whenever he fells like it.
Maybe they should just cancel the visit? Or tell Trump he can sit in the carriage in Windsor Garden or something and wave at the cameras.
No, give him what he wants. All he has to do is sign a waiver beforehand which states:
-- The UK government is not responsible for his secruity while riding around in the carriage
-- He will ride alone
-- Trump can make his own security arrangements if he likes but they mustn’t interfere with UK laws or operations
-- Trump pays the additional cost that, despite everything, arise to the UK government and city of London
-- Trump also pays the no doubt enormous fees for the insurance policies that will need to be taken out on the carriage
Let him have his ride. Just make sure the responsibility is his alone and spectators are kept well away from the carriage and its occupant at all times. I do feel sorry for the horses and hope, for the coachperson, they are smart enough to master the route on their own. But other than that I’d be curious to see just how that would turn out.
P.S.: Giliell, how about having him stopped and deported at the airport? The high courts can send him a belated apology when, weeks later, they conclude the deportation was unjust and illegal. And then do it all over again next time.
And here was me thinking he was a republican.
He’s actually demanding another nation throw a pageant for him. What an colossal baby.
^ sigh
Oh dear. Let me guess, the UK will roll over and submit because May ♥ Trump?
Rq, sadly, you’re quite probably right. Because a vote to leave the EU is totes a vote to leave the single market, therefore we totes need to cuddle up to dictators and demagogues in order to get new markets in order to make up for leaving the market we never actually voted to leave, and which wasn’t even mentioned on the ballot paper. And disagreeing with this makes a person unpatriotic and probably a “race-traitor.” Ho-hum.
Hook the thing to an armored, radio-controlled vehicle, give the horses and footmen a day off and let Trump ride alone.
Seeing one of the wheels fall off with the tiny tyrant inside would be great entertainment though.
There must be a replica somewhere.
or they could make one out of plasic
I wonder, could they get away with “So sorry, but we don’t want bullet holes in the carriage, it’s quite old, you know.”
Caine, maybe they could rush through the papers to declare the coach house (or wherever the carriage is kept) and its contents a national heritage site. Failing that they could just park it outside Buckingham Palace and turn it into a gift shop or kiosk. “Well, you can’t ride it but they have a very nice collection of post cards and fridge magnets for you to look at.”
Komarov, either of those would work. Right now, I am desperately trying not to think about just how fucking embarrassing this is going to be. The asshole wouldn’t shake Angel Merkel’s hand. Does anyone think he’s going to be able to absorb the necessary etiquette to meet the queen? No, don’t want to think about it.
Well, if it was me… those horses would all turn up lame. Every single one of them. Really sorry and all that, old chap, etc. Because although I would worry about the carriage getting bullet holes in it (it is a gorgeous piece) I would worry even more about the horses getting bullet holes in them. Not to mention the whip (driver), the footmen etc.
Caine #15:
Well, it ain’t exactly old, but it’s got some old bits in it.
@Daz
Well, it is a known fact that those who voted to leave EU wanted to shed all the obligations of membership, but keep all the benefits.
Those are just as childish as Trump is. World is not there purely for “leave” voter Brits to fuck with and Brits must finaly learn to accept the fact that the times of the “Empire on which the sun never sets” are gone and not coming back.
As for Trumps golden carriage ride, it would be nice if he was denied it. But it will not happen. He will get it and UK taxpayers will pay for it. Just as CZ taxpayers paid for Popes visit, despite almost none of them wanting to have him here.
The eternal problem. I recall a whole lot of Solidarity-linked Poles escaping to the “freedom” of Australia several years ago.
The freedom these people were seeking didn’t apparently include paying for childcare, or for power to their homes, or providing children’s school lunches out of their own pantry or pocket, or … dozens of things they’d taken for granted as being provided by the state. Apparently they thought that they could escape the onerous intrusive bossy version of the state they’d grown up with but keep all the goodies as some kind of universal right provided by all states everywhere.
Be careful what you wish for.