President Trump and First Lady Melania Attend State Dinner at Buckingham Palace…

There were a total of 171 participants for tonight’s official state dinner at Buckingham Palace.  President Donald Trump and First-Lady Melania Trump were the formal guests of honor for Queen Elizabeth II and the royal family.
Following an extremely formal custom, after the guest greeting line and introductions of family and dignitaries, President Trump, First Lady Melania and senior dignitaries escort the royal family into the grand ballroom. The table format is a traditional u-shape allowing a head table for the queen, succession-seated royals, President Trump and the first lady.
Following tradition HRH Queen Elizabeth delivered a toast to President Donald Trump followed by the national anthem.  President Trump then delivers a toast to HRH Queen Elizabeth followed by the British national anthem.  The Queen’s remarks follow a drum-roll alert to engage the importance.
Head table (left to right): Duke of Cambridge, Prime Minister Theresa May, Ambassador Woody Johnson, The Duchess of Cornwall, The President of the United States of America, Queen Elizabeth II, The Prince of Wales, Mrs. Trump, The Lord Speaker, The Right Honorable Baroness Hale of Richmond, The Right Honorable Lord Mayor of London Peter Estlin, Duchess of Cambridge.


[Transcript] HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II: Mr President, I am delighted to welcome you and Mrs. Trump to Buckingham Palace this evening, just 12 months after our first meeting at Windsor.
(more…)

President Trump and First Lady Melania U.K. State Visit – Arrival Ceremony, Westminster Abbey, Royal U.S-U.K Collection…

President Trump and First Lady Melania arrived to Buckingham Palace for the official state visit reception and ceremony with HRH Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles and Lady Parker Bowles.  (Video and pictorial below)


(more…)

Day #1 Schedule – President Trump U.K. State Visit…

The U.K. is five hours ahead of New York EDT.  The President and First Lady are traveling overnight and will arrive in London at 4:00am U.S. EDT / 9:00am U.K. BST.  The first family will be staying at the the official residence of U.S. Ambassador Woody Johnson, Winfield House estate.
The first day schedule is packed with a state welcome at Buckingham Palace by host Queen Elizabeth II; a state visit to Westminister Abbey (tomb of unknown, Prince Andrew); High Tea at Clarence House (Prince Charles, Duchess Camilla); and a lavish State Dinner at Buckingham Palace (full royal family, sans HRH ‘Nasty’).

4:00am EDT / 9:00am BST THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY arrive at London Stansted Airport, Stansted, United Kingdom
4:10am EDT / 9:10am BST THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY depart London Stansted Airport en route to Winfield House Landing Zone, London, United Kingdom, Stansted, United Kingdom
4:40am EDT / 9:40am BST THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY arrive at Winfield House [U.S. Ambassador Woody Johnson] Landing Zone, London, United Kingdom
(more…)

Background Briefing in Advance of U.K. State Visit…

The White House gave some advanced information about President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump’s upcoming state visit to the United Kingdom; which includes trips to Ireland and France.  [Trip Date: June *3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th.]

[*Anticipate Pelosi announcing “impeachment inquiry” on Monday June 3rd]


[White House] PRESS OFFICER: Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you very much for joining us for this background call on the President’s upcoming trip to the UK, Ireland, and France. This will be on background, attributable to a senior administration official.
Joining us today is [senior administration officials]. They will provide a brief trip overview at the start, and then we’ll be able to take your questions.
So at this point, I’ll turn it over to [senior administration official].
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Thank you so much. I’ll just make a couple of brief remarks and then turn over to my colleague for some of the details.
(more…)

Day #3 Schedule – President Trump State Visit to Japan….

Tokyo Japan is 13 hours ahead of U.S. Eastern timezone. As a result, much of the diplomatic activity for the final day of the state visit happens in the late night hours.
Today is the final day of the official visit which included the first state visit hosted by the Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako to celebrate the new imperial era of “Reiwa”.
The visit has been a resounding success for Japan and the United States of America.
Today, the President and First Lady will honor the military.  Specifically and purposefully the President will showcase the strategic U.S-Japan military alliance, and deliver remarks to commemorate Memorial Day.  At the conclusion of events the President and First Lady will bid farewell to our good friends in Japan.

9:15am (Tokyo) / 8:15pm (U.S. EDT) THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY participate in a Farewell Call with Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress, Tokyo, Japan
9:35am (Tokyo) / 8:35pm (U.S. EDT) THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY depart the Palace Hotel en route to the Hardy Barracks Landing Zone, Tokyo, Japan
9:45am (Tokyo) / 8:45pm (U.S. EDT) THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY arrive at the Hardy Barracks Landing Zone, Tokyo, Japan
9:55am (Tokyo) / 8:55pm (U.S. EDT) THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY depart Hardy Barracks Landing Zone en route to JS Kaga Landing Zone, Tokyo, Japan [JS Kaga (DDH-184) is a helicopter carrier (officially classified by Japan as a helicopter destroyer) and the second constructed ship in the Izumo class of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF)]
(more…)

President Trump and First Lady Melania Attend Imperial Palace State Dinner Hosted by Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako…

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump become the first guests of Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako at the Imperial Palace.
The formal state dinner is the first of the era of Reiwa and intended to highlight an even stronger bond and alliance between the United States and Japan.  The formal dinner included toasts from each nation and the Imperial Household Orchestra playing the ceremonial anthems of both nations.
The dinner menu: •First Course – Consommé a la Royale, •Second Course – Turbot a la Meunière Sauce Tomate, •Third Course – Cote de Boeuf Rotie, •Fourth Course – Salade de Saison, •Fifth Course – Glace Mont Fuji, •Sixth Course – Dessert of melon and grapes.


.
During remarks by U.S. President Trump he called the unique relationship between the United State and Japan a “treasured alliance” and quoted ancient Japanese poetry.
(more…)

Remarks by President Trump and Shinzo Abe During Bilateral Discussions…

President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe deliver remarks and hold a bilateral press availability prior to bilateral discussion over issues of trade and regional security with North Korea.


.
As the two leaders discuss matters of state, First Lady Melania Trump and Lady Akie Abe enjoy a cultural presentation (below).
(more…)

First Lady Melania Trump Visits Mori Building Digital Art Museum…

While President Trump and Prime Minister Abe were playing golf, Madame Akie Abe took First Lady Melania Trump to the incredible Mori Building Digital Art Museum.
The digital art museum is maintained by Team Lab Borderless and has quickly become a very popular destination for visitors to Tokyo.  It is a massive installation, spanning 10,000 square meters, and divided into five worlds with about 60 exhibits among them.
UPDATE: Video Added


(more…)

President Trump and First Lady Melania Attend Sumo Tournament – Present President's Cup Trophy…

President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attend one of the most time-honored and hallowed Japanese traditions: a sumo tournament.  As honored guests of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Madame Akai Abe the president and first lady visit Ryōgoku Kokugikan Stadium in the capital.
With more than 11,500 people in the arena seated on mats, the Trumps and the Abes were seated in a VIP section next to the sumo ring, also called ‘sacred mound’. At the end of the tournament, President Trump and Prime Minister Abe wear slippers to enter the sacred mound and Trump presents the “President’s Cup” trophy; a 5 foot 7-inch custom designed U.S. Trophy emblazoned with an eagle and weighing more than 60 pounds.  Fun stuff:


(more…)