Closing summary
This blog is now closing. Thank you for following along. Below is a roundup of some of our top stories.
Donald Trump told Israel to allow “every ounce of food” into Gaza as he acknowledged for the first time that there is “real starvation” in the region. During a visit to Britain, the US president contradicted Benjamin Netanyahu after the Israeli prime minister claimed it was a “bold-faced lie” to say Israel was causing hunger in Gaza.
Sadiq Khan said a record number of Americans were applying for British citizenship after Donald Trump called him a “nasty person”. A spokesperson for the London mayor said: “Sadiq is delighted that President Trump wants to come to the greatest city in the world. He’d see how our diversity makes us stronger not weaker; richer, not poorer. Perhaps these are the reasons why a record number of Americans have applied for British citizenship under his presidency.”
Donald Trump claimed people crossing the Channel are probably “bad people”, despite admitting he knows “nothing” about small boats. He said: “So I know nothing about the boats. But if the boats are loaded up with bad people - and they usually are, because other countries don’t send their best, they send people that they don’t want, they’re not stupid people, they send the people that they don’t want.”
On Monday afternoon, about 100 protesters gathered in Balmedie, the closest village to Trump’s Aberdeenshire golf course, waving Palestinian flags and chanting “You are not welcome here”.
Kay Collin, a retired modern studies teacher, said she had made the trip from Edinburgh today because of her grandchildren. “Watching what is happening in Gaza, if it was happening to my grandchildren I would hope other people would stand up for them.”
While many people cited the starvation crisis in Gaza as the most urgent reason for their protest, Trump’s policies on immigration, transgender rights and cuts to international aid as well as his misogyny and bullying behaviour more generally were all variously referenced on placards and in chants.
Jenna Harpin, from Portsoy, further north along the coast, said she was “disgusted” at how much money was being spent by the Scottish and UK governments on hosting Trump’s visit, especially as a time when local councils were making cuts to vital services.
The protesters marched through the village, as the police presence swelled I anticipation of Trump’s arrival at the resort later this afternoon. Local access has been significantly restricted with lines of police officers blocking off the beach and snipers spotted on the dunes.
Protesters also expressed disappointment at Scotland’s first minster John Swinney, who is expected to have an official meeting with the US president on Tuesday and is reportedly joining him for a private dinner with Starmer on Monday.
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