Thousands of protesters marched through London on Wednesday to voice their opposition to U.S. President Donald Trump's state visit to the United Kingdom. Meanwhile, a smaller group gathered outside Windsor Castle to welcome him. This visit marks Trump's second state visit to Britain, where he was greeted with traditional royal ceremonies, including a carriage procession and a military parade.

The protest, organized by the Stop Trump Coalition, took place about 25 miles from Windsor. It received support from various organizations, including Amnesty International and women's rights groups like Abortion Rights. Bryan Murray, a retiree attending the protest with his wife, expressed his discontent, stating, "I quite simply dislike everything that Trump and his administration represent around the globe. (They are) absolutely awful."

Public opinion on Trump's visit remains divided. A recent YouGov poll indicated that 45% of respondents believed it was inappropriate to invite Trump, while 30% supported the invitation. The visit has also been marred by controversy, as four individuals were arrested on Tuesday after images of Trump alongside convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were projected onto Windsor Castle. This issue could resurface during the visit, especially after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer dismissed his U.S. ambassador over Epstein's connections last week.

To ensure safety during the protest, over 1,600 police officers were deployed. The demonstration proceeded peacefully toward Parliament, featuring banners with messages such as "Not Wanted Here, Not Wanted Anywhere" and "Trump, a big step back on the evolution of man." Police estimated that around 5,000 people participated in the protest, which was comparable to turnout during Trump's previous state visit in 2019, but significantly lower than the estimates of tens of thousands to 250,000 during his first official visit in July 2018.

In contrast, a small group of Trump supporters gathered in Windsor to greet the president. Among them was Steven DeFranco, a former New York police officer, who expressed his enthusiasm for Trump, saying, "He's doing a fabulous job," and described him as a "beaming light."

As the day unfolded, the stark contrast between the protests in London and the royal welcome in Windsor highlighted the polarized views surrounding Trump's presidency.