1.7 Million People Don't Want Donald Trump to Make a State Visit to the UK

President Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May meet at the White House on Jan. 27

A petition to prevent Donald Trump from making a State Visit to the United Kingdom has been signed by almost 1.7 million people.

A State Visit is the highest form of official visit and brings with it a whole lot of pomp and circumstance (21-gun salute, anyone?). In the UK, it requires an invitation from the Queen. As the UK is a parliamentary democracy, the prime minister advises the queen that an invitation should be issued, something which Theresa May has already done for Trump. This was announced during May's trip the US in January.

Clearly, a large group of Brits do not want this honor granted to Mr. Trump. The petition states: "Donald Trump should be allowed to enter the UK in his capacity as head of the US Government, but he should not be invited to make an official State Visit because it would cause embarrassment to Her Majesty the Queen."

It's important to note that this petition is not to stop Trump entering the UK at all (though many Brits, myself included, wish that was the case). This is about not giving a highly prestigious honor to a man who, so far, has done very little to endear himself to many British people. Since stepping into office, Trump has continued to incite racism and xenophobia at every turn. His approval ratings say it all. Why should we welcome him to our country and massage that ego any more when he has yet to prove himself?

Lord Ricketts, who held a position at the Foreign Office for five years, called the invitation "unprecedented". Historically, US presidents have not been invited on State Visits in the early days of of their presidency. It's an honor that is earned. Barack Obama didn't make his first State Visit until 2011, three years into his first term. The same goes for George W. Bush. Bill Clinton, despite visiting the UK many times as President, never actually came on a State Visit.

A second petition arguing the opposite is currently at just over 100,000 signatures. According to the rules, both will now be considered for debate by the UK Parliament, though obviously by debating one, the second will be debated by default. What will happen remains to be seen, but it's safe to say Theresa May has put the Queen in a very awkward situation.