The Queen won't get a word in edgeways when she meets Donald Trump, says James Comey
The Queen will not get a word in edgeways when she meets Donald Trump, according to the former FBI director who was fired by the US President.
James Comey suggested the monarch should not bother to extensively prepare topics for conversation for her meeting with Mr Trump because he “talks constantly” and will make it difficult for her to intervene.
Mr Comey said conversations with the US President move from “thing to thing to thing” but always revolve around one central theme: Him.
Mr Comey also said he hoped Mr Trump will be “afforded the welcome that’s appropriate for the American President” when he comes to the UK for a working visit on July 13.
Mr Trump’s scheduled meeting with the Queen next month has prompted intense speculation and fascination about what the unlikely pair could talk about.
But Mr Comey, who served as FBI boss from 2013 until 2017, suggested the Queen should prepare for a rather one-sided conversation.
Asked on LBC Radio what sort of “chit-chat” he would advise the Queen to make with the US President, Mr Comey replied: “Don’t prepare a lot of material, because he talks constantly, that’s the challenge of interacting with Mr Trump.”
He continued: “Yeah, it just moves thing to thing to thing.
“The constant theme is that it’s about him and most importantly about you agreeing that either his speech was the best, his approach is the best, that he is the best, and it’s this effort to fill a hole that’s remarkable – the need for affirmation.
“So the Queen, I suppose, will have things ready to say, but I’m not sure how much she’ll get to say.”
Mass protests are expected to greet Mr Trump when he arrives in Britain for what will be his first visit to the country since he was elected in 2016.
The US President’s detractors have urged Theresa May, the Prime Minister, to withdraw Mr Trump’s invitation after a number of his domestic and international policy decisions prompted widespread outrage.
Mrs May and her Government have rejected the calls, raising the possibility of potentially ugly scenes with protestors when Mr Trump does arrive.
But Mr Comey suggested people in the UK should respect the office of US President even if they do not respect the incumbent.
Asked what sort of welcome Mr Trump should receive, he said: “Well I hope he will be afforded the welcome that’s appropriate for the American President.”
Clarifying his comment, he added: “I mean the Office of the President – I respect the Office of the President.”
It came as Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, urged Mrs May to delay Mr Trump’s visit.
He said: “I didn’t invite him, I wouldn’t have invited him and I think the Prime Minister has got ample reasons to withhold the invitation if she wants to.”
Woody Johnson, the US Ambassador to the UK, recently confirmed Mr Trump will meet the Queen during his flying visit.
Mr Johnson said Mr Trump “has to see the head of state”.
“Putting his foot on British soil, it's job one, it's very important, very symbolic,” he said.
"Meeting Her Majesty is the most important thing, because she's the head of state, and from then on, it'll be what the president wants to do."
Mr Comey headed up the FBI under Barack Obama and initially continued to work under Mr Trump before being fired on May 9 2017.
