Bloomberg has published a profile of Trump's relationship with British Prime Minister Theresa May that affirms at least one thing we already knew: Trump will not visit London because he's afraid of being protested.
It also tells us something else that is even more stupefying and embarrassing.
Current and former officials who spoke to Bloomberg say Trump was also inclined to stay away from London because of non-existent "no-go areas" where Muslims rule.
Over a meal of blue cheese salad and beef ribs in the White House banqueting room, Trump held forth on a wide range of topics. “The president had strong views on all of them,” recalls Chris Wilkins, then May’s strategy director, who was among the aides around the table. “He said Brexit’s going to be the making of us. It’s going to be a brilliant thing.”
Trump turned to May and told her he believed there were parts of London that were effectively “no-go areas” due to the number of Islamic extremists. May chose to speak up to “correct him,” Wilkins said.
The idea that Muslims have carved out "no-go" zones or areas around Europe is a popular conspiracy theory among nationalists and xenophobes and, as you may recall, the theory was elevated by a group of congressional Republicans in recent years who claimed there were even no-go zones right here inside the United States and just across the border outside El Paso, Texas.
There is no such thing as "no-go zones" and I suppose I may even find this funny if it wasn't so embarrassing. It's also a reflection of Trump's immigration policy to date which isn't funny at all. It's infuriating.
While we know Trump won't visit London because he doesn't want to face protests, Bloomberg's report tells us he complained directly to Theresa May about the British press and protesters.
In one phone conversation during 2017, Trump complained to May over the criticism he’d been getting in British newspapers. Amid warnings that Trump would face protests in the streets when he arrived, he told the prime minister he would not be coming to the U.K. until she could promise him a warm welcome.
Prime Minister May also finds it very difficult to even talk to Trump because he won't shut the fuck up.
During formal phone calls between the two leaders, May finds it almost impossible to make headway and get her points across, one person familiar with the matter said. Trump totally dominates the discussion, leaving the prime minister with five or ten seconds to speak before he interrupts and launches into another monologue.
Everything here checks out.