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Lawmakers react to Newark airport chaos: ‘Your family deserves to know you’ll be safe’

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Lawmakers spoke out to Fox News Digital on Tuesday as chaos ensued at one of the nation’s busiest airports.

«Our team has reached out to the FAA to get answers on what steps they’re taking to resolve this situation,» said Sen. Andy Kim, a Democrat on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee who also represents the Garden State, where the airport is located.

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«Your family deserves to know that when you fly, you’ll be safe and you’ll get there on time. We’ll keep pressing to make sure it happens,» Kim said.

Across the aisle, West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito lamented the «very outdated» air traffic control system and spoke of the shortage of controllers.

DUFFY CONFIRMATION HEARING MARKED BY BIPARTISANSHIP, PLEDGE TO VISIT HELENE-DEVASTATED STATES

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Newark Liberty International Airport and Sean Duffy  (Getty)

«[That] makes for the turmoil we’re seeing at Newark,» Capito told Fox News Digital.

«I would like to see more accountability at FAA, which is why I have proposed to Commerce Committee Chairman Cruz’s team a public-facing dashboard to show FAA’s progress in updating their systems as well as hiring more controllers.»

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While Democrats like DNC Chairman Ken Martin mocked USDOT Secretary Sean Duffy over the latest air travel-related crisis, Capito countered that the Wisconsin Republican recognizes the challenges America’s skies face.

«I support his efforts to finalize a plan that I hope to review soon,» she said.

NEW JERSEY DEMS SEEK TO BAR IMPRISONED BOB MENENDEZ FROM PUBLIC FUTURE OFFICE, AS GOP TARGETS HIS PENSION

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Martin tweeted, «In case you missed it, Sean Duffy, there were near misses at DCA [Ronald Reagan-Washington National Airport in Crystal City, Va.], air traffic control screens are going dark at Newark, and America’s air travel system is falling apart under your and Donald Trump’s watch.

«Anyway, hope the tacos were good,» he added, apparently referring to a photo Duffy posted on X posing with steak tacos his wife prepared for dinner.

Late Tuesday, Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., a former Newark mayor, wrote a lengthy letter to Duffy saying that given «the serious consequences for our nation’s aviation system, it is critical that the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) take all necessary steps to identify and address the underlying causes of the ongoing flight disruptions.»

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«I appreciate that the USDOT has already responded to this ongoing situation by identifying the importance of technology upgrades across the entire air traffic control system, and I am committed to supporting these efforts in Congress,» Booker wrote.

«However, I ask that you also immediately direct additional staff and resources in order to restore regular operations at EWR in the days ahead. This is of particular importance as the busy summer travel season approaches, which will put further pressure on EWR and the region’s airspace. Specifically, I request that you take additional steps to address the staffing shortages at the Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facility, which have contributed significantly to the repeated suspension and interruption of flight operations at EWR.»

Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., another committee member, told Fox News Digital maintaining America’s «busiest and most advanced airspace in the world» requires a skilled workforce and dependable technology.

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«The radar outages at Newark put air traffic controllers in an impossible situation, endangered incoming flights and demonstrated the urgent need for modernization of our systems,» said Moran, who along with senators John Hoeven, R-N.D., and Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., introduced the Air Traffic Control Workforce Development Act to bolster that workforce sector.

Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., told Fox News Digital later Tuesday that, as a «member of the Senate Transportation Committee, this is deeply concerning to me. The Biden administration spent years funding anything other than important upgrades and updates to outdated FAA technology.

«I think many of us will be asking questions about how this occurred and how we can work with Secretary Duffy and Chairman Cruz to fix it. The flying public deserves to know that they are safe and secure when flying in American airspace.»

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On the Democratic side, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., said: «The ongoing situation at Newark Airport is yet another example of the tremendous strain our aviation system is under — something I’ve been raising the alarm on for years —and it further underscores the urgent need to invest in updated air traffic control systems and equipment, not cut FAA’s funding and workforce.

ATC Ronald Reagan National Airport

A fatal mid-air collision and subsequent near misses at Washington, D.C., area’s Reagan National Airport have added to concerns about the nation’s air-traffic control system. (Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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«As ranking member of the Aviation Subcommittee, I have questions about both Newark and the recent incident near the Pentagon. Congress needs answers. The safety of the flying public depends on it.»

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In a lengthy statement obtained by Fox News and Fox Business, the FAA acknowledged that «several major airlines are facing ongoing flight disruptions at New Jersey’s Newark-Liberty International Airport as the facility contends with ongoing staffing and technology issues.»

«Last week, air traffic controllers at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) facility in Philadelphia lost radar and radio signals while directing planes to Newark for nearly 90 seconds, causing significant delays and flight cancellations that remain ongoing,» the statement continued.

«We are working to ensure the current telecommunications equipment is more reliable in the New York area by establishing a more resilient and redundant configuration with the local exchange carriers. In addition, we are updating our automation system to improve resiliency.»

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Politics,New Jersey,Travel,Senate Democrats,House of Representatives Democrats,Republicans

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Panorama Internacional: perdidos en el abismo de Gaza

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El sanguinario ataque terrorista de 7 de octubre de 2023 en el Sur de Israel abrió una caja de Pandora en la geopolítica de Oriente Medio. Un proceso que puede evaluarse en varios niveles. Uno muy claro ha sido la virtual demolición del poderío que exhibía Irán con sus factores del eje de la resistencia en ese espacio y de la propia potencia persa que, aunque son fuertes las dudas sobre el efecto real de los bombardeos a sus sitios nucleares, ha perdido vigor y capacidad de desafío. Hezbollah, en Líbano, también ha resignado grandes lonjas de su antiguo poder.

El bonus del capítulo ha sido la caída del régimen de Bashar al Assad en Siria, aunque ahí las cosas son más diversas debido a que esa tiranía, si bien formaba parte íntima del patio trasero iraní, también era un significativo aliado de Rusia. A su vez Moscú es un gran amigo del actual Ejecutivo israelí al punto que ha evitado hasta ahora condenar la barbarie del Kremlin en Ucrania.

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Hamas, el autor de aquel ataque, el peor que ha sufrido el pueblo judío desde el Holocausto, está descabezado y claramente disminuido, aunque retiene controles en el enclave y capacidad negociadora con Israel. Lo que resta de esa organización ultraislámica lo debería neutralizar la política, una visión que comparten quienes sostienen que ya no hay espacio ni necesidad para la opción militar. Esa opinión sugiere que Israel repita su historia como después de la guerra de 1973 con Egipto o más tarde con los acuerdos Abraham que permitieron normalizar las relaciones con la mayoría de los países árabes pro occidentales.

La cuestión no es conciliar con Hamas, sino con esas estructuras políticas del vecindario que se harían cargo del enclave palestino y de su gente sin la banda terrorista. Pero el gobierno de Benjamín Netanyahu, en cambio, profundiza una guerra de perfil arrasador e implacable que se ha convertido tanto en una trampa militar y política como un bumerán que vuelve sobre Israel.

El aislamiento del país es por momentos extraordinario y últimamente agravado por la tragedia de los civiles baleados mientras buscan alimentos en un laberinto de asistencia que por momentos acaba en virtuales emboscadas. No debe sorprender el reproche generalizado por una hambruna creciente y visible, sobre la cual Israel culpa a Hamas, aunque en cualquier caso no debería eludir el deber moral de resolverla en todas las instancias.

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Sobrevuela ahora más que antes el discurso pronunciado en agosto pasado en la Conferencia Katif para la Responsabilidad Nacional por el ministro de Economía israelí, el ultrarreligioso Bezalel Smotrich. Allí soltó que “puede ser justo y moral matar de hambre y sed” a los dos millones de habitantes de Gaza para lograr la liberación de los rehenes israelíes en manos de Hamas. También ahí aseguró que Israel debía tomar el control de la distribución de la ayuda dentro de Gaza.

Así sucedió. La organización a cargo del reparto de alimentos es una estructura opaca de tono paramilitar, The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, (GHF) registrada por un pastor evangélico en Delaware apenas dos semanas después de que Donald Trump regresara al poder. Funciona respaldada por EE.UU. y el gobierno de Netanyahu en relevo de la que antes conducía plenamente la ONU.

Días atrás, parte de los más importantes aliados históricos de Israel en el Norte mundial, entre ellos Gran Bretaña e Italia, junto a otros 23 países, denunciaron lo que sucede como una barbarie innecesaria. “Condenamos el goteo de ayuda y el asesinato inhumano de civiles, incluidos niños, que intentan satisfacer sus necesidades más básicas de agua y alimentos. Es espeluznante que más de 800 palestinos hayan muerto mientras buscaban ayuda. La denegación por parte del Gobierno israelí de asistencia humanitaria esencial a la población civil es inaceptable”.

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Una mujer palestina sostiene a su hija de cinco meses, Rama Abu Aya, quien está desnutrida, según los médicos, en el Hospital Nasser en Khan Younis, en el sur de la Franja de Gaza. Foto Reuters

La nota resumió un clamor global para detener un conflicto que parece reproducir la pesadilla de la Bucha ucraniana, la ciudad en manos de la soldadesca sanguinaria rusa que escandalizó al mundo en el primer año de aquella otra guerra. Ese reproche no tiene ninguna relación con la plaga del antisemitismo que sí existe, pero que se denuncia a veces con la intención oportunista de censurar lo que realmente sucede en este conflicto y en esa región.

¿Gaza sin palestinos?

La ausencia de una salida a este extraordinario abismo se debe a las ambiciones de una minoría en el poder del país hebreo que, tras el brutal atentado de Hamas, politizó la crisis detrás de una alucinada noción de construir el mítico Gran Israel desde el Mediterráneo al Jordán. El diario Financial Times publicó semanas atrás una investigación que reveló una tarea encomendada por empresarios israelíes a la Boston Consulting Group y con la presencia de miembros del Instituto Tony Blair, para determinar los costos de una operación para migrar a los habitantes de la Franja.

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Era en los momentos que Trump aludió al proyecto de una fastuosa “Riviera” turística en el enclave, incluso con islas artificiales. El documento de conclusiones de esos asesores llegó a sostener que la devastadora guerra en Gaza había “creado una oportunidad única en un siglo para reconstruir Gaza desde los principios básicos… como una sociedad segura, moderna y próspera” y, por supuesto, sin palestinos.

Poco después de la última y tercera visita de Netanyahu a la Casa Blanca este mes para reunirse con Trump, el portal Axios reveló que el director del Mossad, David Barnea, viajó a la capital norteamericana en busca de ayuda de EE.UU. para convencer a tres países, Etiopía, Libia e Indonesia, para que acepten recibir a los habitantes de la Franja. Barnea informó al enviado a Oriente Medio de Trump, Steve Witkoff, que Israel ha estado dialogando con esas naciones, y EE.UU. debería ofrecer “algún tipo de incentivos” para ayudar a persuadirlos. Witkoff no se comprometió, y no está claro si EE.UU. aceptaría intervenir.

Palestinos esperan recibir comida de un comedor social, en medio de una crisis de hambre, en la ciudad de Gaza. Foto ReutersPalestinos esperan recibir comida de un comedor social, en medio de una crisis de hambre, en la ciudad de Gaza. Foto Reuters

Sucede que esa iniciativa fantástica habría sido archivada por la Casa Blanca, en gran medida por la seducción de las coronas árabes que, se afirma, convencieron a Trump de la necesidad de hallar una solución para el conflicto palestino y entregar el territorio a un consorcio de países árabes que se ocupen de la reconstrucción.

En esa dimensión conviene instalar la inusual visita que el embajador de Estados Unidos en Israel, Mike Huckabee, un aliado vertical de Netanyahu, realizó al gobierno de la Autoridad Palestina en Ramallah. La primera vez que un diplomático nombrado por el magnate republicano expone semejante gesto que habrá generado muchas incógnitas en el gobierno israelí. El mensaje sería algo así como nada sin los palestinos. Sería consecuencia de la visión transaccional de Trump que ha recibido una promesa de enormes inversiones de parte de Qatar (el reino que le regaló el avión), Emiratos y especialmente de Arabia Saudita.

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Como señalan Marc Lynch y Shibley Telhami –docente de la universidad de Maryland y miembro del Brooking Institution, respectivamente–, en Foreign Affairs, “Trump parece inclinarse hacia una perspectiva sobre las cuestiones regionales similar a la de los líderes de los Estados del Golfo, que priorizan la estabilidad y necesitan mostrar a su pueblo algún progreso en la cuestión palestina para justificar una mayor cooperación”. Léase, en el caso de Riad, el establecimiento de relaciones con Israel, un paso clave junto con la salida estatal palestina que consolidaría el liderazgo regional del príncipe saudita Mohamed bin Salman, una ambición y personaje nada secundario en esta crisis.

© Copyright Clarín 2025

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US-Mexico Tijuana River sewage crisis deal is ‘massive’ win for Americans, EPA says

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A new deal between the United States and Mexico aimed at resolving the Tijuana River sewage crisis is «massive» win for Americans living in the San Diego area, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced this week. 

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The memorandum of understanding was signed Thursday as the EPA said «For many decades, untreated raw sewage has flowed into Southern California from Mexico, polluting the Tijuana River Valley, closing beaches, fouling the air, harming the region’s economy, and sickening people on both sides of the border.» 

«The Trump Administration is proud to deliver this massive environmental and national security win for Americans in the San Diego area who have been living with this disgusting raw sewage flowing into their communities for far too long,» Zeldin said in a statement. 

The EPA said the deal meets multiple «top Trump Administration priorities and milestones critical to ensuring a 100% solution to this issue» — including expediting already-existing critical infrastructure projects. 

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LIV GOLF STAR PHIL MICKELSON ADDS HIS REACTION TO DEEPENING SEWAGE CRISIS IN SAN DIEGO 

A sign reads «Stop The Stink» near the Tijuana River Valley area by Border Field State Park along the U.S.-Mexico border between San Diego and Tijuana in San Diego County, Calif., on April 23, 2025. In recent years, the U.S.-Mexico border sewage pollution problem has closed beaches and raised concerns over public health issues.  (Patrick Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)

«The United States — which has withheld sending more American dollars to projects until Mexico fulfilled their obligations toward other projects — agreed to release EPA Border Water Infrastructure Program funding to complete the rehabilitation of Pump Station 1 and the Tijuana River collection pipes. This is because Mexico agreed to fund and begin construction on two priority projects this year, the diversion of treated effluent from two wastewater treatment plants and the rehabilitation of the Parallel Gravity Line,» the EPA said, in reference to a wastewater collecting pipe in Mexico. «This increased the total number of projects planned for this year from two to six.» 

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«To that end, Mexico will immediately seek internal funding to initiate the construction process for the diversion, which will divert 10 million gallons per day of treated effluent entering the Tijuana River, and the rehabilitation of the Parallel Gravity Line. This will be completed no later than December 31, 2025,» the EPA added. 

It also said «Several necessary Mexico side projects have been added to account for future population growth in Tijuana and operation and maintenance costs.» 

DEAL STRUCK BETWEEN US AND MEXICO TO ENSURE TEXAS FARMERS GET MUCH-NEEDED WATER 

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Tijuana River sewage treatment plane in California

The South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant operates to treat water and sewage flowing across the border from the Tijuana River behind a section of border wall fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border between San Diego and Tijuana on April 24, 2025.  (Patrick Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)

The deal was reached after Zeldin traveled to San Diego in April to speak to those affected by the situation. 

«I made a commitment to the residents that I would spearhead an effort to construct an all-encompassing plan to finally bring the sewage crisis to an end,» Zeldin said. «Since my visit, the Mexican and United States’ governments have been working collaboratively to urgently finalize a permanent 100% solution to this longstanding issue. Secretary Rubio and the whole State Department, and the National Security Council at the White House worked hand-in-hand with EPA, and other federal partners, to make this agreement a reality.» 

Sewage in Mexico

An aerial view of sewage water spilling into Playa Blanca beach in the coast of Tijuana, Baja California state, Mexico on March 21, 2024.  (Getty Images)

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«This is not just a solution for 2025,» he added. «We devised this agreement to factor in population growth, operation and maintenance costs, and other variables that would make this solution durable and long term. Grateful to President Claudia Sheinbaum, Secretary [of the Environment and National Resources of Mexico Alicia] Bárcena, and the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their partnership, cooperation, and commitment to work with us to clean up the Tijuana River Valley. This is a huge win for millions of Americans and Mexicans who have been calling on us to end this decades old crisis.» 

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Trump heads to Scotland to talk golf, politics and trade

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President Donald Trump will depart for Scotland on Friday for a five-day trip where he will check in with his golf resorts in Turnberry and Aberdeen, as well as with British Prime Minister Kier Starmer and head of the Scottish government, First Minister John Swinney.

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While it is unclear what dates he will be meeting with the British leaders, one topic of conversation expected to be top of the list is the U.S.-U.K. trade agreement. 

The U.K. is one of the few countries with which the U.S. has advanced its trade agreements under relatively amicable terms, signing a deal dubbed the «Economic Prosperity Deal» last month, which agreed to slash tariffs.

Then-former President Donald Trump playing golf at his Trump Turnberry course in South Ayrshire during his visit to the U.K. on Wednesday, May 3, 2023. (Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty Images)

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TRUMP HEADS TO SCOTLAND, CONTINUES IRONING OUT TRADE DEALS AFTER NOTCHING SIX MONTHS BACK IN OFFICE

It is unclear what details the pair will hash out, but according to Alan Mendoza, executive director of the Henry Jackson Society, an international affairs think tank based in London, the June deal was more of a «head of terms,» essentially stating both nations’ intent to move forward with new trade terms.

«Now we expect to see more detail to be hammered out and specific rates on various industries to be specified,» Mendoza explained to Fox News Digital.  

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White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt also told reporters last week that Trump and Starmer will meet «to refine the great trade deal that was brokered,» though the White House did not answer Fox News Digital’s questions about what specifically will be discussed over the weekend. 

«The U.K. is the only country to have secured this deal with the U.S., reducing car export tariffs from 27.5% to 10%, saving manufacturers hundreds of millions each year and protecting hundreds of thousands of jobs,» the British government said in a statement. «At the same time, the aerospace sector has seen the removal of 10% tariffs on goods such as engines and aircraft parts, helping make companies such as Rolls Royce more competitive and allow them to continue to be at the cutting edge of innovation.»

Starmer championed his relationship with Trump in a BBC interview earlier this month and said that it was «in the national interest» for the two men to get along.

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Starmer Oval Office meeting with Trump

U.K. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, middle left, meets with President Donald Trump, alongside Vice President JD Vance, right, and U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy, left, in the Oval Office at the White House on Feb. 27, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Carl Court – Pool/Getty Images)

«We are different people, and we’ve got different political backgrounds and leanings, but we do have a good relationship and that comes from a number of places,» Starmer told BBC podcast «Political Thinking.» «I think I do understand what anchors the president, what he really cares about.»

Apart from geopolitical talks, Trump is expected to get in a round of golf at one of his courses when visiting his clubs, like he did in 2018 when he visited the historic golf resort and hotel at Turnberry.

UK TO ROLL OUT RED CARPET IN ‘UNPRECEDENTED’ SECOND TRUMP VISIT HOSTED BY KING CHARLES

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The British government did not respond to Fox News Digital’s questions whether Starmer is expected to play alongside Trump at any point during his trip. 

Scotland appears to hold special significance for Trump as his mother, Mary Anne MacLeod Trump, was born and raised in Scotland before she moved to Queens, New York, and he dedicated his club in Aberdeen to her after breaking ground in 2023 and naming an 18-round course the MacLeod Course.

Trump stands by bagpipers in Scotland.

Then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is welcomed as he arrives at his Turnberry golf course, in Turnberry, Scotland, on June 24, 2016. (REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne/File Photo)

He is also reported to have created a memorial garden to his mother at the resort. 

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Though his strong affection for Scotland has not always been reciprocated and Trump has previously been met with protests during his trip.

Scotland Police confirmed with Fox New Digital that «significant» security precautions have been taken ahead of Trump’s visit, including pulling in additional forces from across the U.K. to help with the police effort.

«A policing plan will be in place to maintain public safety, balance rights to peaceful protest and minimize disruption,» Assistant Chief Constable Emma Bond said, confirming that protests are once again expected. 

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Scotland ramps up police presence during Trump visit.

President Donald Trump plays a round of golf at the Trump Turnberry resort in South Ayrshire, where he and first lady Melania Trump are spending the weekend. (Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty Images)

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«The visit will require a significant police operation using local, national and specialist resources from across Police Scotland, supported by colleagues from other U.K. police forces as part of mutual aid arrangements,» she added. 

Trump will return to the U.K. in September for an official state visit, where he will meet with King Charles III at Windsor Castle.

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The visit will mark the first time the U.K. has invited a U.S. president for a second state visit. 


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