Britain is gearing up for the arrival of Donald Trump just hours after the US president waded into the Brexit crisis gripping Prime Minister Theresa May's government, saying the UK is a country in turmoil.
Trump lands in Britain on Thursday following a NATO meeting in Brussels where he chided Germany and other European nations for failing to contribute enough to defence spending.
His trip coincides with a tumultuous week for the British prime minister after two senior ministers resigned in protest at her plans for trade with the European Union after Britain leaves next March.
Trump and his wife Melania will meet the Queen at Windsor Castle on Friday.
May appears to have seen off an immediate challenge to her leadership but Trump's comments ahead of the trip - that Britain was "in somewhat turmoil" and that it was up to the people if she stayed in power - fanned the sense of political crisis.
Trump also said he might speak to former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who quit along with Brexit minister David Davis over May's Brexit plans.
Trump has long voiced his support for Brexit, saying it was part of a global uprising that ultimately thrust him to power.
When asked directly if Trump would meet Johnson, US Ambassador in London Woody Johnson told BBC Radio: "I'm not sure. That's not on the schedule, but the president makes his own schedule. If the president wants to do something, we'll make it possible."
The ambassador added May had shown strong leadership and that the trip would enhance the special relationship between the United States and Britain.
"We're extremely confident in the ability of the UK to plough through this issue with Brexit and move on," he said.
Meanwhile, a high metal fence has been erected around the US ambassador's central London residence where Trump will spend Thursday night and the embassy sent out an alert warning Americans in London to keep a low profile in case protests turned violent.
More than 50,000 people have signed up to demonstrate in London on Friday when protesters intend to fly a large balloon over parliament portraying Trump as an orange, snarling baby, although a counter-gathering to welcome him is also planned.
"It's really kind of irrelevant to what we're trying to do, and it certainly doesn't express the opinion of the British people that I've met," Ambassador Johnson said of the balloon.
