DOWNING Street is preparing contingency plans for a visit to Britain next month by US presidential hopeful Donald Trump, it has emerged.
Whitehall sources have indicated that the UK Government is planning for the possibility that the presumptive Republican nominee might seek to make the transatlantic trip to visit Scotland for the reopening of the Ailsa golf course at Turnberry following renovation. It is owned by the Trump Organisation and is due to reopen on June 1.
Any visit in June would not necessarily mean Mr Trump would seek to meet fellow leading Conservatives like David Cameron.
However, if he decided to visit Britain after the Republican convention in Cleveland, Ohio, towards the end of July, then protocol would change if, as isnow widely expected, the tycoon became the official Republican presidential nominee.
The billionaire businessman would be expected to be offered meetings not only with the Prime Minister but also with Jeremy Corbyn, Leader of the Opposition.
Earlier this week, Mr Trump suggested that, following Mr Cameron’s critical remarks about his controversial comments on wanting to ban Muslims from America, their relationship might not be a good one.
In response, the PM’s spokesman said Mr Cameron “continues to believe that preventing Muslims from entering the US is divisive, stupid and wrong".
However, he stressed that the PM was "committed to maintaining the special relationship" with the US, whoever won the presidential election.
The spokesman added that no proposal had been made for a phone call between the PM and Mr Trump but noted Downing Street would be willing to consider one.
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