Britain’s firefighters are raising alarm over an upcoming state visit by former U.S. President Donald Trump, urging Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to reconsider the trip. The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) warns that the visit could stretch fire services already under severe pressure.
According to the union, crews may be required to provide additional coverage at Chequers, the prime minister’s country residence in Buckinghamshire, where Trump is scheduled to meet Starmer on September 18. Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service reportedly acknowledged that staffing elsewhere in the county “may be compromised to accommodate it,” though the service declined to comment further.
Steve Wright, FBU general secretary, framed the issue as a public safety concern. “Now we learn that fire cover may be compromised to accommodate [the meeting]. This could hamper response times and put lives at risk,” he said, calling on Starmer to cancel the state visit.
Firefighters in Buckinghamshire have reportedly been offered overtime pay to cover the visit, but union representatives warned that the deployment could leave local residents with reduced crews. While fire engines sent to Chequers would have the recommended five firefighters, other areas might only see four.
Chris Wycherley, FBU executive council member for the southern region, described the service as “on its knees” after years of cuts. “Buckinghamshire has spent all summer struggling with a lack of resources. Wildfires, high temperatures, and low rainfall have taken their toll,” he said. “The public will see this deployment as a cruel joke. Fire services exist to save lives, not to put on a show for far-right foreign leaders.”
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Since 2010, the FBU says, one in five firefighter positions have been lost in the UK, and response times are now three minutes slower than in the 1990s. The union also cited climate change as a growing strain on emergency services, amplifying the risks posed by reduced staffing.
Government officials, however, insist the visit will proceed as planned. A spokesperson said, “We have no plans to cancel the state visit” and highlighted that fire authorities received nearly £3 billion last year to support vital life-saving work. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government emphasized that resources will continue to be allocated to protect communities.
The invitation for Trump’s visit originates from King Charles III, extended during Starmer’s trip to the White House earlier this year. As the debate over public safety and protocol continues, firefighters insist their warning is not political—only a call to ensure their service can meet the demands of an increasingly unpredictable climate.