Trump protest: giant Trump baby blimp will fly over London during president’s visit

A giant balloon dubbed “Trump baby” has been given all-clear to be flown over Whitehall during US President Donald Trump’s visit next week.

London mayor Sadiq Khan's Greater London Authority has approved a request for the flight after thousands signed a petition and a crowdfunding campaign raised more than £16,000 to get the 20ft-long inflatable off the ground, Sky News reports.

The inflatable will be allowed to fly for two hours on the morning of Friday 13 July, as Trump meets Theresa May at Downing Street.

Leo Murray, who is behind the crowdfunded idea, said: “[Trump] really seems to hate it when people make fun of him, so when he visits the UK on Friday, we want to make sure he knows that all of Britain is looking down on him and laughing at him.

“That's why a group of us have chipped in and raised enough money to have a six-metre high blimp made by a professional inflatables company, to be flown in the skies over Parliament Square during Trump's visit.”

Murray said organisers initially “didn't get off to the best start with the mayor's office over this, who originally told us that they didn't recognise Trump Baby as legitimate protest”.

However, he said City Hall had “rediscovered its sense of humour - Trump Baby will fly”.

Ukip leader Nigel Farage tweeted that the plan was “the biggest insult to a sitting US President ever”.

The balloon will be one of many protests planned for Trump’s visit. Organised demonstrations will begin on Thursday evening with protests at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire and outside the US ambassador’s residence in London's Regent’s Park, where some believe the Trumps will be staying, The Independent says.

“He is also expected to visit Scotland as part of the trip, from where his family hails and where Mr Trump owns golf resorts in Aberdeenshire and Ayrshire.

“Protests are being held there too in anticipation – in Glasgow on Friday and Edinburgh on Saturday, where organisers are promising a ‘carnival of resistance’ with anti-Trump fairground-style games promised among the attractions.”