Sun. Jan 19th, 2025
alert-–-suella-braverman-and-laurence-fox-arrive-in-us-for-donald-trump’s-inauguration:-ex-home-secretary-in-maga-hat-says-she’s-‘grateful’-for-invite-after-landing-in-washington-on-same-flight-as-reclaim-party-chiefAlert – Suella Braverman and Laurence Fox arrive in US for Donald Trump’s inauguration: Ex Home Secretary in MAGA hat says she’s ‘grateful’ for invite after landing in Washington on same flight as Reclaim party chief

Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman and right-wing actor Laurence Fox were among those to touch down on US soil today ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration.

Donning a Make America Great Again cap, Ms Braverman said she was ‘honoured’ to be in the States and was ‘very grateful for the invitation’.

But when pressed by a reporter on whether she received a direct invitation from President-elect Trump, the MP for Fareham and Waterlooville refused to answer.

As she marched through the airport, she was then asked if she had travelled with Fox, who was walking alongside her.

However, she explained that she had just coincidentally been on the same flight as the actor turned right-wing political commentator who tweeted last night that it was ‘wonderful’ to be in the US. 

Ms Braverman and Mr Fox, the Reclaim Party chief, are among the Brits who are travelling to the US for Trump’s inauguration on Monday. 

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, former PMs Boris Johnson and Liz Truss and ex-Home Secretary Priti Patel are also set to attend.

Trump arrived in Washington DC last night with his wife Melania and their 18-year-old son Barron.

They travelled in a US military C-32 aircraft on a flight dubbed Special Air Mission 47 – a nod to Trump becoming the 47th president.

The Trump family took off from West Palm Beach, Florida, and touched down at Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia. They later celebrated at the Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia, which is around 30 miles out of Washington.

Trump’s swearing-in ceremony will take place in the US Capitol Rotunda building rather than outside because of the cold weather.

Some 250,000 people who had tickets to watch the historic event from around the Capitol grounds will no longer be able to.

It is the first time it is taking place indoors in 40 years.

Ms Braverman’s appearance in the US comes after she said she would vote for Trump if she was a US citizen because the ‘world will be safer’ with him as president before the election.

‘I want Trump to be president’, she said while hosting her LBC show last July.

Trump marked his return to power with a celebration at his Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia, about 30 miles outside Washington last night

‘If we look at the policy – don’t look at the characters and the personalities – if we look at the policy, I think the world will be safer under Donald Trump.

‘If we look at his record as president, you know, no wars were started while Donald Trump was president.’

She added: ‘I think there’s been a real track record of peace and stability globally that we saw from Trump when he was president and that we can expect going forward. And right now the world is a very volatile place.

‘I do think that we need a strong president in the White House. I personally would give my vote to Donald Trump were I an American citizen.’

 Ms Braverman met Trump while he was president the first time, but it is not clear whether he directly invited her to the US for tomorrow’s event.

Walking through the airport, Ms Braverman was asked whether she had been invited and why it was important for her to be in the US.

She replied: ‘Listen, I’ve got the MAGA hat again. It’s an honour to be here and I’m very grateful for the invitation to the inauguration.’

When asked again whether it was a direct invitation from Trump, Ms Braverman failed to answer and said: ‘I’m very much looking forward to attending the rally tomorrow.’

When quizzed on whether she was travelling with Laurence Fox, she added: ‘We happened to be on the same flight.’

The Fareham MP tweeted earlier today that it was ‘great to be in Washington DC’ with her husband Rael and Superman star Dean Cain.

‘Looking forward to the Inauguration!’ she said sharing a photo of her, Mr Braverman and Mr Cain. 

Sir Keir Starmer will not be in Washington DC as per tradition – no British PM has ever attended the inauguration.

It is not customary for world leaders to attend but Mr Trump has broken with tradition by inviting right-wing leaders from around the globe, including Reform UK’s Nigel Farage. 

Shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel is also set to attend dismissed Farage as a ‘pop-up act’ today ahead of the inauguration.

She said the apparent closeness of the Reform leader to the incoming president was ‘irrelevant’.

The former home secretary insisted the Tories shared ‘DNA on values and beliefs’ with the Republicans and the parties ‘ended the Cold War’ together.

It comes as she is set to watch the ceremony marking the White House changeover with ex-PMs Boris Johnson and Liz Truss. 

Asked about Mr Farage’s influence with Mr Trump, Ms Patel told Sky News it was ‘not a relevant question’.

‘They are our sister party. We have enduring long-standing ties with the Republican Party,’ she said, stressing the Reagan-Thatcher era.

On Reform, she said: ‘We’re not a pop-up act in the way in which they are and their presence is here right now.

‘Our two parties are knitted together in the very principles of conservatism and our DNA on values and beliefs is incredibly strong.’

Ms Patel said she worked closely with the last Trump government as Home Secretary and ‘those ties will continue’.

The comments came after Mr Farage described some members of Mr Trump’s incoming cabinet as ‘genuine friends on speed dial’ and reiterated his offer to help foster relations.

He told the Sun on Sunday that if he were able to help ‘behind the scenes’ he would ‘because it is in the national interest’.

President Biden is set to attend the rally, even though Trump failed to attend his in 2021.

‘This president believes in the peaceful transfer of power, and that’s what you’re going to see this president do,’ a White House spokeswoman said.

‘It’s not about him. It’s about the American people. That’s what the American people need to see regardless of who wins.’

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