A father from Kent has revealed that his 13-year-old Muslim daughter was the driving force behind a petition calling for Donald Trump to be invited for a state visit to the UK. The petition has garnered more than 250,000 signatures, in response to a rival petition seeking to block the US President's visit.
Alan Brown, 68, from Dover, said his daughter Gemma noticed the anti-Trump petition and suggested they create their own. 'I've supported him since he started his campaign – and so has my daughter,' Mr Brown said. 'We were discussing the petition and Gemma said why don't I do something about it. I said I didn't know how and she said she would help me.'
The pro-Trump petition states that the UK 'is a country that supports free speech' and that Trump should be invited because he is 'the leader of a free world'. It has been signed by over 250,000 people, while the opposing petition has reached 1.7 million signatures. Both will be debated in Parliament on 20 February.
Mr Brown, who runs a gas leak detection business, said he believes Trump should be allowed to visit for a state visit and that the Queen could offer him advice. 'Brexit appears to be going ahead and we need customers, and we need to keep up a good relationship with America,' he added.
Gemma said she was 'speechless' at the support. 'I didn't agree with the first petition – I don't see how the Queen would be embarrassed. She has met other world leaders before,' she said.
