Donald Trump baby balloon could take to the skies again when President visits UK

Activists are plotting to relaunch the Donald Trump baby balloon when the President jets to the UK for his historic second official visit in September, Metro can reveal.

The blimp, a giant, six-metre-long inflatable depicting Trump as a baby in a nappy grasping a mobile phone, became a symbol of protests against the controversial leader on his first state visit as President in July 2018.

It was flown in the skies above Parliament as tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets. During the parade, it was flanked by a group of campaigners in red flying suits who were dubbed ‘Trump babysitters’.

The balloon later spawned copycat versions of London Mayor Sadiq Khan and former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, which were flown in 2018 and 2019, as well as counterfeit merchandise, including t-shirts and bobblehead figures.

Leo Murray, who came up with the idea of the blimp to mock the President, has now revealed he is considering re-launching the inflatable or commissioning another for the visit later this year.

Leo, from north London, told Metro: ‘We will consider getting the blimp up again. It was very effective last time. The way it made fun of him worked. It certainly was eye-catching and gave everyone a smile. But the danger of Trump is worse than ever now.

‘The original one is now in the Museum of London so we would have to speak to them. We crowdfunded the first one so maybe we could do that again and get a new one. It’s too early to say but we will have plans.

‘It’s more vital than ever to protest. He should not be coming for a second visit the way Britain’s sucking up to him is not what people here want to see, it’s very poor.

‘His first presidency was bad enough but in the end he didn’t get to do much. This time round he is much more dangerous- we have to oppose this visit and make ourselves heard.’

To create the blimp, Leo worked with designer Matt Bonner. It was then built by Leicestershire-based company, Imagine Inflatables.

While the majority of people praised the inflatable, it faced some criticism, including from the President himself.

Trump said at the time the blimp made him feel unwanted, adding: ‘I guess when they put out blimps to make me feel unwelcome, no reason for me to go to London.

‘I used to love London as a city. I haven’t been there in a long time. But when they make you feel unwelcome, why would I stay there?’

Nigel Farage also described it at the time as ‘the biggest insult to a sitting US President ever.’

In response to the criticism, the office of London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the balloon was recognised as a legitimate form of demonstration, which is why it was allowed to fly.

It was later flown in Ireland during protests in 2019 but plans to launch it over Trump’s Turnberry golf course in Scotland that year were halted after the authorities refused permission.

The Museum of London has since bought the original blimp and has it on display in its protest collection.

It described the blimp as an ‘extraordinary and imaginative idea’ and a ‘response from Londoners’. 

The Museum’s director, Sharon Ament, said the blimp was an example of the British love of satire. She said: ‘We use humour a lot. And we poke fun at politicians. This is a big – literally – example of that.’

Leo added: ‘Last time the blimp was very effective and could be again.

‘The world is a much more dangerous place because of Trump winning the presidency again. We need to make our voices heard.’ 

In February, Trump was invited to visit the UK for a second unprecedented state visit by King Charles.

Buckingham Palace confirmed on Tuesday that Trump and his wife, First Lady Melania Trump, will be in the UK from 17 to 19 September and will be hosted at Windsor Castle. A full schedule for the visit is yet to be released.

The House of Commons breaks up the day before so he will not be making an address to Parliament as is the usual protocol for a state visit.

Trump said ahead of his visit: ‘I think I want to have a good time and respect King Charles because he’s a great gentleman.’

He added that the UK was a ‘great place’.

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