Trump’s Visit to London Stirred but Didn’t cause Westminster Bridge Rally

The American President, Donald Trump, embarked on a formal trip to the United Kingdom on the 16th of September, 2025. Soon afterward, claims echoed on the internet that a video circulating on social media showcased a gargantuan crowd of protestors amassing on the Westminster Bridge in London, denouncing President Trump’s visit on that exact date. As the video gained traction, there was an increase in its spread online, purporting to reflect the magnitude of resistance against Trump’s visit in London. The President’s state visit spanned from the 16th to the 18th of September during which he enjoyed the hospitability of the royal family and government officials.

Subsequent to his arrival on the 16th, a video started disseminating on the 17th of September depicting protestors on the Westminster Bridge, with a caption expressing thanks from the United States for the protest against the ‘fascist toddler.’ Nevertheless, the veracity of the caption accompanying the video came into question. Delving deeper into the origins of the video, it was revealed that it had been recorded days earlier, on the 13th of September, during a far-right rally dubbed ‘Unite the Kingdom.’ Social media platforms were witnessing the video’s spread as early as the 13th, when London housed the prearranged ‘Unite the Kingdom’ rally.

Organized by far-right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, known better by his pseudonym Tommy Robinson, the rally was envisioned to be a united stand for ‘free speech.’ Robinson has infamously made headlines for his anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim sentiments over the years. However, while the event was projected as a defense for free speech, protests against immigration incorporated a prominent segment of the rally agenda.

On the 15th of September, videos capturing the same images from the rally were shared by Robinson himself, providing a visual peek into the magnitude of the crowd gathered on the bridge. Robinson claimed that the rally had seen an attendance of ‘3 million patriots.’ The Metropolitan Police’s estimates, however, painted a different picture, citing attendee numbers to fall within the 110,000 to 150,000 range.

Additonal footage that circulated depicted similar crowd sizes in different sectors of London, incorporating shots of the same crowd taken from various perspectives on the Westminster Bridge. A closer look into these images revealed that the majority of the attendees were bearing either the Union Jack, the national flag of the U.K., or the flag for England, comprised of a white background with a red cross– commonly known as St. George’s flag.

The rallying crowds wielded numerous St. George’s flags, arguably a symbol often utilized to stoke anti-immigrant sentiment and far-right nationalism. Identifying features in the footage from the 13th of September predominantly showcased a fusion of whites, reds, and occasional blues, indicating that numerous St. George’s flags were in circulation among the rally attendees.

Even though there were protests against President Trump in London, the scale of these protests did not measure up to the ‘Unite the Kingdom’ rallies. As reported by the Metropolitan Police, approximately 5,000 individuals congregated a few days after the ‘Unite the Kingdom’ rally.

Careful analysis of the video from the Westminster Bridge march reveals that it was not in direct response to Trump’s visit. In contradiction to the aforementioned claims, the rally was certainly not an anti-Trump protest. To further complicate the narrative, there were representations of Charlie Kirk, a known ally of Trump, among the rally signs and stickers.

Charlie Kirk’s likeness emerged on the rally scene following his tragic death due to a shooting on the 10th of September. While Tommy Robinson didn’t publicize the event as a commemoration for Charlie Kirk, he did express that the rally would serve to honor the conservative American activist. Thus, the rally was decidedly a multi-faceted event not singularly focused on protests against President Trump.

Erroneously labeling the rally as an anti-Trump protest led to much discord and misinformation. The protesters gathered were not seeking to display distaste for the American President, but were there to echo Robinson’s sentiments and to show solidarity for causes they believed in.

In retrospect, the conflation of these two distinct events — the anti-Trump protests and the ‘Unite the Kingdom’ rally — illustrates how easily truth can be distorted, especially when shared on social media platforms. User discretion, thorough fact-checking, and a discerning understanding of the different dynamic events happening concurrently in London stand imperative.

Although critics of the U.S. President did make their voices heard in London during Trump’s visit, they were significantly outnumbered by the ‘Unite the Kingdom’ participants. It’s important to parse these two separate events to ensure one doesn’t incorrectly influence the interpretation of the other.

The ‘Unite the Kingdom’ rally itself was a convoluted event that comprised a number of different factors such as the support for free speech, opposition to immigration, and the commemoration of Charlie Kirk. Such multiplicity inevitably complicates the correct interpretation of the event and can easily become a hotbed for unfounded or confusing claims.

Acknowledging that the desire to protect free speech was also at the heart of the ‘Unite the Kingdom’ rally underscores the complexity and nuanced motivations behind gatherings of such magnitude. Tommy Robinson rallied his followers for causes he cared about, and it’s important to differentiate these from the anti-Trump demonstrations.

Ultimately, the assertions associated with the video depicting the Westminster Bridge march were debunked. The video was not a recording of anti-Trump protestors, but rather supporters of the ‘Unite the Kingdom’ rally. Hence, it’s important for netizens to be cautious while drawing conclusions from social media videos, as they may not always tell the complete story.

By acknowledging the actual context behind this video, not only are we reminded about the misrepresentation and misinformation that can easily spread through social media, but also about the diversity and complexity of public sentiment surrounding political events. In all, each event stood independently expressive, with its distinct messages echoing among its respective participants.