Donald Trump has been branded a “threat to our world order” and unworthy of a state visit, after he moved to pull the United States from the international Arms Trade Treaty.
Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry said the US president’s plan to quit the agreement regulating arms sales between countries showed he was “nothing but a disgrace to his office”.
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In a furious intervention, the shadow cabinet member said Mr Trump’s move was ”the final confirmation that he is not the leader of the free world”.
Her comments came as Jeremy Corbyn vowed to boycott a lavish banquet for Mr Trump when he visits the UK in June for a long-delayed state visit.
The Labour leader said Theresa May was wrong to “kowtow” to a president who “rips up vital international treaties”.
Shape Created with Sketch. The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Show all 13 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 1/13 Joe Biden The former vice president - poised to be a frontrunner - has announced his run. He recently faced scrutiny for inappropriate touching of women, but was thought to deal with the criticism well EPA 2/13 Bernie Sanders The 2016 runner-up has announced that he will be running again in 2020 Getty 3/13 Pete Buttigieg The Indiana mayor and war veteran will be running for president. If elected, he would be the first openly LGBT+ president in American history Getty 4/13 Beto O'Rourke The former Texas congressman formally launched his bid for the presidency in March. He intends to run on a progressive platform, stating that the US is driven by "gross differences in opportunity and outcome" AP 5/13 Elizabeth Warren The Massachusetts Senator has formally launched her bid for president in 2020. A progressive Democrat, she is a major supporter of regulating Wall Street. Reuters 6/13 Cory Booker The New Jersey Senator has announced that he will be running for the presidency in 2020. If he secures the nomination he said finding a female vice president would be a priority Getty 7/13 Wayne Messam Mayor of the city of Miramar in the Miami metropolitan area, Wayne Messam has announced his bid. He intends to run on a progressive platform against the "broken" federal government. He favours gun regulations and was a signatory to a letter from some 400 mayors condemning President Trump's withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord Vice News 8/13 Kirsten Gillibrand The New York Senator formally announced her presidential bid in January, saying that “healthcare should be a right, not a privilege” Getty 9/13 Kamala Harris The former California attorney general will be running for president in 2020. Introduced to the national stage during Jeff Sessions’ testimony, she has endorsed Medicare-for-all and proposed a major tax-credit for the middle class AFP/Getty 10/13 John Delaney The Maryland congressman was the first to launch his bid for presidency, making the announcement in 2017 AP 11/13 Tulsi Gabbard The Hawaii congresswoman announced her candidacy in January, but is likely to face tough questions on her past comments on LGBT+ rights and her stance on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad Getty 12/13 Andrew Yang The entrepreneur has announced his presidential candidacy, and has pledged that he would introduce a universal basic income of $1,000 a month to every American over the age of 18 Getty 13/13 Julian Castro The former San Antonio mayor announced his candidacy in January and said that his running has a “special meaning” for the Latino community in the US Getty 1/13 Joe Biden The former vice president - poised to be a frontrunner - has announced his run. He recently faced scrutiny for inappropriate touching of women, but was thought to deal with the criticism well EPA 2/13 Bernie Sanders The 2016 runner-up has announced that he will be running again in 2020 Getty 3/13 Pete Buttigieg The Indiana mayor and war veteran will be running for president. If elected, he would be the first openly LGBT+ president in American history Getty 4/13 Beto O'Rourke The former Texas congressman formally launched his bid for the presidency in March. He intends to run on a progressive platform, stating that the US is driven by "gross differences in opportunity and outcome" AP 5/13 Elizabeth Warren The Massachusetts Senator has formally launched her bid for president in 2020. A progressive Democrat, she is a major supporter of regulating Wall Street. Reuters 6/13 Cory Booker The New Jersey Senator has announced that he will be running for the presidency in 2020. If he secures the nomination he said finding a female vice president would be a priority Getty 7/13 Wayne Messam Mayor of the city of Miramar in the Miami metropolitan area, Wayne Messam has announced his bid. He intends to run on a progressive platform against the "broken" federal government. He favours gun regulations and was a signatory to a letter from some 400 mayors condemning President Trump's withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord Vice News 8/13 Kirsten Gillibrand The New York Senator formally announced her presidential bid in January, saying that “healthcare should be a right, not a privilege” Getty 9/13 Kamala Harris The former California attorney general will be running for president in 2020. Introduced to the national stage during Jeff Sessions’ testimony, she has endorsed Medicare-for-all and proposed a major tax-credit for the middle class AFP/Getty 10/13 John Delaney The Maryland congressman was the first to launch his bid for presidency, making the announcement in 2017 AP 11/13 Tulsi Gabbard The Hawaii congresswoman announced her candidacy in January, but is likely to face tough questions on her past comments on LGBT+ rights and her stance on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad Getty 12/13 Andrew Yang The entrepreneur has announced his presidential candidacy, and has pledged that he would introduce a universal basic income of $1,000 a month to every American over the age of 18 Getty 13/13 Julian Castro The former San Antonio mayor announced his candidacy in January and said that his running has a “special meaning” for the Latino community in the US Getty
Ms Thornberry, who would play a leading role in dealing with Mr Trump’s administration if Labour were elected, said: “Donald Trump’s statement on the Arms Trade Treaty is the final confirmation that he is not the leader of the free world, he never has been, and he does not deserve the honour of a state visit to Britain.
“He is nothing but a disgrace to his office and a threat to our world order.
Mr Trump said the US would be “taking our signature back” from the international Arms Trade Treaty on Friday, which was signed by Barack Obama in 2013.
In a speech to the National Rifle Association, the pro-gun lobby group, Mr Trump said: “Under my administration, we will never surrender American sovereignty to anyone.
“We will never allow foreign bureaucrats to trample on your second amendment freedoms.
“And that is why my administration will never ratify the UN Arms Trade Treaty.”
More than 100 countries, including the UK, have signed up to the treaty that regulates international trade in conventional weapons, including small arms, battle tanks, combat aircraft and warships.
Former president Barack Obama signed the accord, arranged under the auspices of the United Nations, in 2013, although it has not been ratified by US legislators.
Mr Trump’s decision to halt ratification follows similar withdrawals from the Paris agreement on climate change, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty with Russia and the Iran nuclear deal.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable said the decision was “another retrograde step” and called on the government to cancel the state visit.
He said: “It is a stain on the Conservative government that they have invited this president for all the pomp and circumstance of a state visit.
“He is playing a negative role on the international stage – the visit should be cancelled.”
Mr Trump’s three-day visit in June has drawn huge controversy, with mass demonstrations expected throughout.
He will hold bilateral talks with Ms May at Downing Street, as well as attending a white-tie dinner banquet at Buckingham Palace, hosted by the Queen.
os_kaiserwilhelm on April 27th, 2019 at 15:57 UTC »
The thing I really wish reporters would start reporting on this matter is that the United States of America was never a party to this treaty. A president cannot unilaterally enter the United States into a treaty. These agreements are between the administration of foreign governments. For the people of the United States to enter into a treaty, the Senate must ratify the treaty. The President cannot make law, including treaties, by themselves.
FloatingCupcakes on April 27th, 2019 at 14:34 UTC »
Beware all ye who enter here: the comments are messier than a toddlers birthday party at a cheesecake and ice cream convention.
kafka0011 on April 27th, 2019 at 13:27 UTC »
don't worry, the US never cared about it.