LONDON — U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in the United Kingdom on Tuesday evening, signaling a potential adjustment to a significant trade deal with Britain. His visit includes a formal banquet and an overnight stay at Windsor Castle, but it is also marked by widespread protests against him.

Trump and First Lady Melania Trump landed at London Stansted Airport at 9:08 p.m. local time. They were greeted by The Viscount Hood, the Lord-in-Waiting to King Charles, along with Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and Jennifer Tolhurst, the King’s Lord-Lieutenant of Essex. Following their arrival, the couple was transported by U.S. Marine helicopter to Winfield House, the residence of the U.S. ambassador.

As Trump prepared for his visit, protest groups made their presence known. One group, Everyone Hates Elon, displayed a large banner outside Windsor Castle featuring Trump alongside Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender. This banner was part of a campaign to highlight the controversial connections between Trump and Epstein, especially following the recent release of a “birthday book” that allegedly contains a personal message from Trump to Epstein, which Trump denies writing.

In addition to the banner, protesters projected images related to Epstein onto the walls of Windsor Castle, leading to the arrest of four individuals for malicious communications. Other activists placed fake merchandise in local shops, including coffee mugs and plates featuring Trump and Epstein, with a nod to the phrase “special relationship” often used to describe U.S.-U.K. ties.

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is looking to negotiate improved trade terms with Trump during their talks on Thursday. This follows a day of royal ceremonies, including a state banquet attended by the Prince and Princess of Wales and Queen Camilla, who is expected to participate despite having missed a recent funeral due to health issues.

In May, Trump and Starmer agreed to a trade deal that imposed a 10% tariff on most U.K. exports to the U.S., which is lower than the 15% tariff applied to the European Union. Starmer aims to finalize terms regarding steel exports, which currently face a 25% tariff. Trump indicated there might be flexibility in the negotiations, stating, "They want to see if they can refine the trade deal a little bit. We made a deal, and it’s a great deal, and I’m into helping them."

Trump, whose mother was born in Scotland, emphasized the ceremonial significance of his visit and the importance of Windsor Castle. He referred to the castle as the “ultimate” venue compared to Buckingham Palace. In his previous state visit in June 2019, Trump and Melania were welcomed by Queen Elizabeth II.

During this visit, Trump expressed his long-standing friendship with King Charles, stating, "They’re friends of mine from a long time, long before he was king. And it’s an honor to have him as king. I think he represents the country so well."

A major protest against Trump is anticipated to begin two hours after his arrival at Windsor Castle, supported by around 50 organizations, including Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, and Black Lives Matter. A spokeswoman for the protest movement emphasized their commitment to non-violence, stating, "We are a completely non-violent, anti-violence movement. It will not be tolerated at our protests, and we have security and stewards to keep attendees safe."

While Starmer seeks to negotiate trade outcomes, the protest movement argues that hosting Trump is unjustified. "Trump doesn’t honor his deals. He’s not worth negotiating with," the spokeswoman added.