Trump blames ‘bad deal’ for U.K. trip cancellation, but Londoners think they scared him away

LONDON – Many Londoners on Friday offered their own reasons for President Donald Trump canceling a possible trip to the British capital: He was nervous about the expected protests that could greet him.

"It seems he's finally got the message," wrote London's mayor, Sadiq Khan.

In a tweet sent at 5 a.m. London time, Trump said that he was canceling a visit to the British capital because he was "not a big fan" of the real estate deal that saw the United States selling its old embassy, located in one of the poshest areas in London, and moving to shiny new building in south London, an area Trump described as "off location."

Trump tweeted: "Reason I canceled my trip to London is that I am not a big fan of the Obama Administration having sold perhaps the best located and finest embassy in London for 'peanuts,' only to build a new one in an off location for 1.2 billion dollars. Bad deal. Wanted me to cut ribbon-NO."

In fact, it was the George W. Bush administration that decided more than a decade ago to relocate the embassy during a worldwide push for greater security at U.S. diplomatic sites.

Khan, the mayor of London and frequent foe of Trump, tweeted that Trump had "finally got the message" that he wasn't welcome in the British capital.

David Lammy, a lawmaker for the opposition Labour party, believed Trump was shaken by the prospect of being " met by millions of us out on the streets protesting."

Ed Miliband, the former leader of the Labour Party, also agreed that Trump had "got the message."

But at least one prominent British Cabinet official took no joy in the gloating. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson — a former mayor of London — accused the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Khan of endangering the "crucial relationship" between the United States and Britain. He even got in an extra jab at Khan, calling him a "puffed up pompous popinjay."

Trump is hugely controversial figure in Britain where he recently succeeded in uniting politicians across the political aisle when he retweeted a far-right group's anti-Muslim videos. After the British Prime Minister Theresa May said he was wrong to share the videos, Trump hit back at May telling her to focus on terrorism in Britain. That sparked another a debate about Trump in Parliament – not for the first time – where politicians from all parties condemned the president's tweets.

There is reason to believe that a visit by Trump – whether an official state visit or a lower-key working visit – would be met by a howl of opposition on the streets. The Trump visit was never officially announced, but he was widely expected to attend ceremonies next month to dedicate the new embassy.

Shortly after Trump's inauguration, around 100,000 demonstrators hit the streets of London for the Women's March in solidarity with anti-Trump rallies worldwide.

A group called "Stop Trump" promised the "biggest demonstration in British history" should Trump visit. On a Facebook event page, more than 8,000 registered to attend a rally for an event that wasn't even scheduled.

A pillar of Britain's foreign policy since World War II, the U.K.'s so-called "special relationship" with Washington has taken on added importance as Britain prepares to leave the European Union in 2019 and seeks new major trade deals.

May was the first foreign leader to visit Trump after his inauguration in January last year, and they were filmed emerging from the White House holding hands. She later said Trump took her hand in a gentlemanly gesture as they walked down a ramp.

During May's U.S. trip, she extended an invitation to Trump to make a formal state visit – which includes pomp, pageantry and a banquet with Queen Elizabeth.

May's spokesman told reporters Trump was welcome in London and that the invitation to visit had been accepted, although no date agreed. He said the opening of the embassy was a matter for the U.S. government.

"The U.S. is one of our oldest and most valued allies and our strong and deep partnership will endure," the spokesman said.

Reuters material is included in this article.