As Donald Trump’s historic second state visit to the United Kingdom approaches, the British Government must begin drawing up an itinerary for its honoured, if mercurial, guest. But will a visit to Parliament be on the cards? Three American presidents have addressed a joint meeting of the Houses of Parliament. Trump could be the fourth, yet MPs and peers are reportedly campaigning to bar him from the privilege.

Once exceptional events, foreign dignitaries’ addresses to Parliament have become more commonplace. Since 2010, there has been an average of one per year, compared with just two over the entire Seventies.

When Trump made his first state visit in 2019, the then Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow, blocked him from addressing Parliament, against the wishes of the Conservative government. The grounds for a total ban were shaky at best. Chinese leader Xi Jinping has been afforded this honour, and only last year MPs welcomed the Emir of Qatar. During the Cold War, three Soviet premiers addressed parliamentarians. If real dictators are allowed to visit, then it seems inconsistent to block an American president, regardless of political disagreements.

There is, however, the question of the room. The first foreign dignitary to address members of both Houses of Parliament was French president Albert Lebrun in March 1939. Lebrun spoke in Westminster Hall, the oldest part of the palace, built by the conquering Normans in the 11th century. When he addressed MPs, it was observed that French was the original language used in that space.

Since Lebrun’s visit, there have been 67 occasions when foreign heads of state and dignitaries have addressed MPs. Only seven of these have been in Westminster Hall, five of which have come since 2010. Some of these invitations, such as those for Pope Benedict XVI and Burmese politician Aung San Suu Kyi, were arguably made in poor judgement.

But Trump is not the only American president to ever offend British sensibilities. In 1982, Margaret Thatcher wanted Ronald Reagan to speak in Westminster Hall, but uproar from Labour MPs forced a compromise whereby Reagan would speak in the Royal Gallery instead. Many other foreign dignitaries have spoken in the same room, which can seat about 1,000 people. Another option is the Robing Room, which has been addressed by various foreign prime ministers, presidents, and royals. Both are grand rooms, with plenty of gold and razzmatazz to enchant the famously bling-loving Trump.

For MPs still seething at the forthcoming visit, there are other options. They could, for instance, treat Trump to the “cut and thrust” of British Parliamentary discourse. In 1967, the then US Vice President Hubert Humphrey delivered an address to MPs and peers. Angered by US policy in Vietnam, Labour MP Anne Kerr could not contain herself. When the VP solemnly intoned, “Blessed are the peacemakers”, Kerr heckled sarcastically: “—and bomb droppers”. Her barracking paid off: Humphrey agreed to answer a question from her as soon as he finished his speech. Kerr challenged him to justify US presence in Vietnam, warning the Vice President that she was not to be fobbed off with the usual line that the US was “invited” there.

Those MPs who lack the patience or bravery to follow in Kerr’s footsteps could always choose not to go. A third of MPs boycotted Reagan’s speech. Out of 237 Labour MPs, just 30 showed up. Many joined 115,000 anti-nuclear protestors in Hyde Park, chanting: “Reagan Out!”

My advice to British parliamentarians is to follow the Reagan example. Put Trump in the Royal Gallery, where dissenting MPs can boycott, heckle, or protest. The President gets his gold room and Anglo-American relations survive for another day.

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Richard Johnson is a Senior Lecturer in Politics at Queen Mary University of London.

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