Trump blocked from addressing Parliament on UK state visit

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Members of the British Parliament broke into applause when the Speaker of the House of Commons announced that President Donald Trump would not be allowed to address the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

John Bercow explained that he was “strongly opposed” to Trump speaking and said that being invited to speak was “not an automatic right” but “an earned honour.” Specifically, he cited the fact that Trump was opposed to the House of Common’s views opposed to “racism and to sexism and our support for equality before the law and an independent judiciary.”

“Before the imposition of the migrant ban I would myself have been strongly opposed to an address by President Trump in Westminster Hall,” he explained before going on to add, “After the imposition of the migrant ban by President Trump I am even more strongly opposed to an address by President Trump in Westminster Hall.”

“We value our relationship with the United States. If a state visit takes place, that is way beyond and above the pay grade of the Speaker,” he continued. “However, as far as this place is concerned I feel very strongly that our opposition to racism and to sexism and our support for equality before the law and an independent judiciary are hugely important considerations in the House of Commons.”