Donald Trump to visit Winston Churchill exhibition tonight at former Prime Minister’s birthplace
DONALD Trump will get a tour of the Winston Churchill exhibition at Blenheim Palace tonight, as he visits the late Prime Minister's birthplace, The Sun can reveal.
The US President will fly into the grounds of the historic palace just before 7.30pm this evening, before he is greeted by Theresa May at the door.
And he will be shown around the 2,000 acre estate by the Duke of Marlborough, the US embassy confirmed today.
Mr Trump and wife Melania will attend a black tie dinner with 150 business leaders tonight.
There are also rumours that the President, who is a huge fan of the former wartime Prime Minister, on his brief visit to Chequers.
Sources at the US embassy denied that it was on the official agenda, but the grave is just a mile away from where he will be dining tonight, in the Parish Church of St Martin Bladon.
Trump's Europe visit so far:
- President Trump flew in to the UK this afternoon, before a dinner at Churchill's birthplace, Blenheim Palace
- Before he left he declared the UK was in "turmoil", gave luke-warm support for Theresa May, and said he hoped to meet his "friend" Boris Johnson in Britain
- At an explosive Nato summit in Brussels President Trump threatened to pull out of Nato, but claimed victory when allies vowed to up their defence spending
- Trump slammed Mrs May's Chequers Brexit plan, saying it might not be what the people voted for
- Ministers unveil their Brexit white paper today, as Tory MPs remain unhappy with it
Sir Winston is buried in the family plot there, having refused a burial in Westminster Abbey.
Some protesters are expected outside the heavily guarded gated tonight as the President dines.
He will be joined by Mrs May and other Government ministers for a dinner of Scottish salmon, beef, followed by strawberries and clotted cream ice cream.
The Winston Churchill exhibition includes letters, one of his uniforms, and a saddle he used to ride his pony as a child.
President Trump asked for the bust of Sir Winston to be put back into the Oval Office when he took office, The Sun revealed last year.
The request was put in to Boris Johnson by the President Elect's team during talks in New York before he was sworn in.
A bitter row over the bust’s location had raged for seven years since outgoing President Barack Obama replaced the wartime leader’s image with one of Martin Luther King in 2009.
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What's at Blenheim Palace?
DONALD Trump will fly into Blenheim Palace later this evening for a black tie dinner with business leaders.
Hidden away in the countryside, he will take his helicopter to the remote rural location.
The huge palace and gardens were awarded to John Churchill, the first Duke of Marlborough by Queen Anne - part in thanks for his victory at the Battle of Blenheim in 1704.
The mammoth estate has 200 rooms and more than 1000 windows.
The building has been in the Churchill family for years, and was where the late Winston Churchill was born in 1874.
It was opened to visitors in 1950, but is closed today due to the official visit.
The palace, although it is a popular tourist site, is still home to the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough, who live there today.
Tomorrow he and Mrs May will visit the Sandhurst military academy and hold talks at her country home, Chequers.
He will then have tea with the Queen at Windsor Castle, before heading to Scotland where he'll spend the weekend at his Turnberry golf course in Ayrshire.
But his visit is set to be dogged by protests too - as thousands are expected to turnout to officially voice their opposition to his visit.
A giant blimp balloon of the President in a nappy will be flown over London tomorrow too.
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