The far-right activist Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, has been hosted by the Trump administration for a meeting at the US State Department in Washington. Robinson, 43, was welcomed by Joe Rittenhouse, a senior adviser at the department.
Rittenhouse posted on X: “Honoured to have free speech warrior @TRobinsonNewEra at Department of State today. The world and the West is a better place when we fight for freedom of speech and no one has been on the front lines more than Tommy. Good to see you my friend!”
Robinson, who has convictions for assault, using a fake passport, mortgage fraud and contempt of court, wrote on X: “In America making alliances & friendships, today I had the privilege of an invite to the @StateDept.” A State Department spokesperson said Robinson visited “in an unofficial capacity on a tour today”, but did not provide further details on who he met or what was discussed.
Earlier this month, Robinson said he left the UK after police warned him that an Islamic State publication had encouraged violence against him. He posted a clip of a phone call from police in which an officer told him he had been identified in a magazine called Yalghaar, reportedly published by ISKP.
Scottish Green MSP Maggie Chapman criticised the meeting, saying: “This is a man who has built his profile on division, racism and Islamophobia… it’s perhaps no surprise that Donald Trump’s White House are among his fans.” She called for international cooperation to tackle hate and defend human rights.
