The Guardian editorial board says Trump is ‘not welcome’ in U.K. ahead of his first state visit

The Guardian newspaper Sunday said President Trump “is not welcome” in the United Kingdom ahead of his first official state visit.

A column written by the editorial board asserts that Trump, who has bashed unfavorable press coverage as “fake news,” is a “demagogue who represents a threat to peace, democracy and the climate of our planet.”

{mosads}“Trump is only the third US president ever to be honoured with a state visit, the others being George W Bush and Barack Obama,” the editorial board wrote. “Inviting him in the first place was a crass error. Following through in the midst of the UK’s current political crisis is an act of gross irresponsibility.”

Trump’s three-day visit this week is expected to draw protests in the U.K. that will require additional security.

Trump is expected to visit Buckingham Palace during his stay before commemorating the 75th anniversary of D-Day in France.

The Guardian editorial board wrote Trump and his family’s visit as honored guests of the queen “risks legitimising his destructive policies, his cronyism and his leanings towards autocracy.”

“The more serious threat to the host nation is that Mr Trump’s presence and public statements will boost anti-democratic and rightwing populist elements here,” the board wrote.

The editorial board also called on Prime Minister Theresa May to object to some of Trump’s recent actions.

“It is incumbent upon Mrs May and others to challenge him directly – or risk appearing to give the assault on women’s rights, and bullying of neighbouring states, a seal of approval,” it wrote.

The editorial board’s column comes just a day after London Mayor Sadiq Khan wrote an op-ed published in The Guardian arguing that the U.K. is on the “wrong side of history” for hosting Trump.