The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) said it has emerged that firefighters will be deployed to Chequers during the visit at a time when the service has been “stretched to breaking point” by cuts and wildfires.
The FBU said Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service has emailed staff offering overtime for the visit.
Why Fire Brigades Union wants Donald Trump’s state visit to UK cancelled
The move comes at a time when the fire and rescue service is facing substantial cuts across the country and in the local area, the FBU said.
“Rolling out the red carpet for him with an unprecedented second state visit was always a shocking move for a Labour Government. Now we learn that fire cover may be compromised to accommodate it. This could hamper response times and public safety.
“Keir Starmer must cancel this state visit.”
Chris Wycherley, FBU executive council member for the Southern region, said: “Fifteen years of cuts mean the fire service is on its knees, and Buckinghamshire has spent all summer suffering a lack of resources.
“We have had wildfires, hot temperatures and low rainfall. Those conditions could well still be in place throughout September.
“We have now found that the service has been asked to deploy fire engines and a water tanker to sit outside Chequers for President Trump’s visit.
“Firefighters and members of the public will rightly regard that as a cruel joke. The fire service exists to save lives, not to put on a show for far-right foreign leaders.”
This weekend, The King and Queen attended the Braemar Gathering Highland Games. 🏴
Positioned close to Balmoral, the Games are held every year on the first Saturday in September.
Having run in its present form since 1832, the event features a host of traditional Highland Games… pic.twitter.com/LwYpxvxWbc
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) September 7, 2025
Donald Trump’s state visit to UK to be policed from the skies
Donald Trump’s second visit to the UK will see a major policing operation led by drones from the airspace over Windsor, police have said.
The King is to host the US president and his wife, first lady Melania Trump, at Windsor Castle from September 17 to 19, where they will be feted with a ceremonial welcome and state banquet.
A 24/7 policing operation will be in place in the Berkshire town during the event, with a temporary order restricting the airspace from September 16 (when the state visit rehearsal is to take place) until September 18.
This means non-police drones and smaller aircraft cannot fly through the protected area, Thames Valley Police officers said on Monday (September 8) during a drone-flying demonstration at the force’s training centre in Sulhamstead, Berkshire.
“It’s a significant policing operation for us,” Inspector Matthew Wilkinson, airspace bronze commander for Thames Valley Police, said.
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“However Thames Valley Police is proud to host these events and we have a good history of putting on these events for both the Royal Family and the country.”
Asked about the scale of the drone operation for the US president’s state visit compared to other high profile events, Insp Wilkinson replied: “It’s one of the larger ones.
“It’s in line with other large-scale events we’ve put on as a force.
“Obviously every event carries on its own challenges and threats, and we’ll assess that and resource it accordingly.”
