During US President Donald Trump's state visit to the UK, Windsor Castle became the focal point for a peculiar mix of protesters and superfans, while the president himself remained largely out of public view. The event, marked by heavy security and a media frenzy, saw crowds gathering along the high street, hoping for a glimpse of the presidential motorcade. However, the main attraction turned out to be a single-decker bus carrying a pensioner, leading to widespread disappointment.
Police officers were seen managing the crowds, with one officer telling a woman filming a Facebook Live video, 'I'm afraid nothing's going to happen, madam.' The day was characterised by a series of minor incidents: people arguing over Gaza, flag-waving, and placard-brandishing. A man in a Maga hat was observed eating a pickled egg from a chip shop, grimacing slightly. Television crews shuttled up and down Castle Hill, while drizzle fell intermittently.
The event was largely a 'festival of nothing,' as the state visit was designed to minimise contact with the public. While Trump and King Charles inspected the guard inside the castle, the crowd outside was left to its own devices. The BBC spent much of the morning broadcasting aerial shots of the castle, with one journalist quipping, 'Our top story today, stone building remains upright.' Sky News filled airtime by discussing the impact of rain on helicopter flights.
To fill the void, the media turned to the 'superfans' who had gathered. Among them was a man dressed in UK and US flags, a woman with a muzzled Alsatian in a Maga vest, and an artist who had painted Trump as a caveman carrying King Charles. People outside the Barbour store engaged in heated debates about the definition of genocide. These characters provided easy copy for reporters, highlighting how political opinion can be shaped by the loudest voices.
The presence of such outcasts and misfits was seen as a quality specific to Trump, who himself was described as a 'very weird guy.' The event underscored the ability of Trump to attract the disaffected and conspiracy-curious, turning Windsor into a gathering point for a diverse array of individuals. As one observer noted, 'Outcasts of the world, unite. We gather at Windsor at daybreak. Wear whatever you like.'
