Donald Trump has confirmed he will not come to the UK to open the new US embassy next month, blaming the Obama administration's decision to move it to an "off location" in a "bad deal".
Reports last night had said the president would not be attending because he was concerned about a hostile reception, a lack of "bells and whistles" and the fact he would not be able to meet the Queen.
Mr Trump then tweeted this morning to confirm he would indeed not be gracing the opening with his presence, and offered an explanation for his decision.
"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," the President said.
"Bad deal. Wanted me to cut ribbon-NO!"
The US announced plans to move to the new site in October 2008 - when George W Bush was in the White House.
On the embassy web page about the project, it said: "The project has been funded entirely by the proceeds of the sale of other US Government properties in London, not through appropriated funds."
Mr Trump is understood to be sending US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson instead.
Downing Street declined to comment on the particular case but reports suggested No 10 was aware the “working visit” had been postponed.
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! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2018
British Government sources said they had never officially been informed of a date for Mr Trump to make a visit, but speculation had suggested he would formally open the new £750m embassy at a ceremony in February.
The new building will open for business on 16 January.
The President had reportedly been due to meet with Prime Minister Theresa May at No 10, with 26 and 27 February provisionally scheduled in the diary. Downing Street had hoped to firm up the dates this week, the Daily Mail reported.
The decision is in contrast to comments made by the US Ambassador to the UK, Woody Johnson, at the end of last year that Mr Trump was planning to visit in the new year, and comments by Ms May last week that he "will be coming to this country".
Ms May controversially extended the offer of a state visit when she became the first world leader to meet Mr Trump in the White House following his inauguration last year.
The new US embassy in Nine Elms, London (PA)
Construction continues at the site of a new diplomatic quarter along the Thames (Getty)
Since then, however, the President has indicated he does not want to take up the invitation if he is going to face mass demonstrations.
Last month Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called for his supporters to go out in force to send Mr Trump a "clear message" that he is not welcome if he comes to the UK.
The opposition to his visit meant the original plan for an official state visit, which would include a chance for Mr Trump to meet the Queen, was downgraded to a "working visit" which carries much less prestige.
22 show all Donald Trump's international Presidential trips
1/22 French President Emmanuel Macron and US President Donald Trump AFP/Getty Images
2/22 French President Emmanuel Macron and US President Donald Trump talk as they leave the Army Museum at Les Invalides in Paris AFP/Getty Images
3/22 German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US President Donald Trump arrive for the group photo at the G7 Taormina summit on the island of Sicily in May 2017 Getty Images
4/22 Mr Trump was pressed on the subject at the G7 summit in Italy Getty
5/22 US President Donald Trump gives a speeech at the Warsaw Uprising Monument on Krasinski Square Getty
6/22 US President Donald Trump and Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May during a ceremony at the NATO headquarters before the start of a summit in Brussels, Belgium Reuters
7/22 Montenegro's Prime Minister Dusko Markovic is seen to the right of Donald Trump at a Nato summit in Brussels REUTERS
8/22 Pope Francis meeting with US President Donald J. Trump EPA
9/22 Pope Francis poses with US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump AFP/Getty Images
10/22 US President Donald Trump arrives at Palazzo del Quirinale ahead of the meeting with Italian President Sergio Mattarella Ufficio Stampa Presidenza della via Getty
11/22 US President Donald Trump is seen during a joint press conference with the Palestinian leader at the presidential palace in the West Bank city of Bethlehem AFP/Getty Images
12/22 Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas meets US President Donald Trump PPO via Getty
13/22 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks with US President Donald Trump prior to the President's departure GPO via Getty Images
14/22 US President Donald Trump and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shake hands after delivering a speech at the Israel Museum AFP/Getty Images
15/22 US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump lay a wreath in the Hall of Remembrance as White House senior advisor Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump watch on during a visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial museum AFP/Getty Images
16/22 US President Donald Trump visit to Yad Vashem Holocaust museum in Jerusalem accompanied by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu GPO via Getty Images
17/22 US President Donald Trump takes his seat before his speech to the Arab Islamic American Summit in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia Reuters
18/22 Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, US President Donald Trump and US First Lady Melania Trump look at a display of Saudi modern art at the Saudi Royal Court in Riyadh AFP/Getty Images
19/22 US President Donald Trump and Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud take part in a signing ceremony at the Saudi Royal Court in Riyadh AFP/Getty Images
20/22 King Salman presents Donald Trump with The Collar of Abdulaziz al-Saud Medal at the Royal Court Palace on 20 May AP
21/22 US President Donald Trump is welcomed by Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud upon arrival at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh AFP/Getty Images
22/22 U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump walk on the South Lawn prior to their first foreign trip Getty Images
In addition, Ms May and Mr Trump fell out spectacularly in November over his retweeting of anti-Muslim videos posted online by the deputy leader of the far-right Britain First group, Jayda Fransen.
At the time, the PM said Mr Trump was "wrong" to retweet the videos, and the US president hit back at Ms May on Twitter by telling her to focus on "destructive radical Islamic terrorism" in the UK, rather than on him.
The White House has yet to respond to The Independent's request for comment.
sartori_tangier on January 12nd, 2018 at 01:05 UTC »
TIL the US ambassador to Britain is named Woody Johnson.
coffeepi on January 12nd, 2018 at 00:39 UTC »
"I never wanted to go to Britain. Such a mess. Many people tell me it is a mess. I didn't cancel trip because i never planned to go. Fake news"
Trump tweet in the next week. Taking bets
TexasWithADollarsign on January 12nd, 2018 at 00:27 UTC »
So Obama's going to the royal wedding, I presume?