VIDEO: Donald Trump baby balloon takes flight as protests against US president continue

A HUGE balloon depicting Donald Trump as a giant, angry baby has been inflated in London as part of protests against the US president.

The 6m (20ft) tall blimp will fly above Parliament Square in London while Trump is on a visit to the UK.

Organisers behind the protest say the balloon brings light to the infantile yet dangerous nature of his politics.

The flying of the effigy, which was crowdfunded by activists, has been approved by the Greater London Authority.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said: “The UK like in fact the US has a long and rich history of the rights and the freedoms to protest, the freedom of speech, the freedom to assemble.

“Can you imagine if we limited freedom of speech because somebody’s feelings might be hurt?”

#Trump baby balloon slowly rises over Parliament Square, to cheers from the crowd below pic.twitter.com/yld6yUj7C1

— Eliza Mackintosh (@elizamackintosh) July 13, 2018

In an interview last night with The Sun, Trump said: “I guess when they put out blimps to make me feel unwelcome, there’s 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?”

Demonstrators hoped to bring the balloon north of the border to fly over Turnberry while Trump stays at his golf resort over the weekend.

However, Police Scotland denied the request to fly it as an air exclusion zone is in place over the area surrounding the Ayrshire property.

Assistant Chief Constable Mark Williams said: “Clearly there is a significant protection operation in place for the president and this includes restrictions to the airspace in the Turnberry area.

“We need to ensure there is a balance between protection and public safety and the public’s right to peacefully protest.

“With that in mind and on this occasion we are unable to grant permission for the balloon to fly in that area, however we are in discussion with the applicants about possible alternatives.”

Other protests against Trump are being held in Glasgow on Friday evening and Edinburgh on Saturday, so the balloon may make an appearance at one of those events.

Air Force One is set to land at Prestwick this evening, with Trump being greeted by Scottish Secretary David Mundell.

The president is expected to indulge in a few rounds of golf over the weekend before leaving on Sunday.

Speaking ahead of his trip, the president described Turnberry as “magical” and “one of my favourite places”.

Serious message behind balloon, say campaigners

Protesters say the stunt has a serious message behind it.

There is more to the 20-feet high balloon caricature – which depicts the leader as an angry infant wearing a nappy and clutching a mobile phone – than mockery, demonstrator Sheila Menon said.

When the blimp flies in Parliament Square for two hours on Friday morning, organisers hope it can be a symbol for all those campaigning against the President’s controversial policies.

Ms Menon, who is part of a group who crowdfunded the balloon, said: “We know that behind the humour of this the Trump baby represents a whole multitude of campaigns and issues.

“This isn’t just about mocking him.

“This is actually about drawing attention to his fascist policies, policies that he’s putting into place like nobody’s business since he’s been in power.

“Policies that are having very real impacts on real lives not just in the US but all over the world.”

She listed Mr Trump’s immigration policies, bans on some people entering the US, his foreign policies, and lack of support for taking action on climate change as having affects across the globe.

She added: “So there’s a very serious message behind this but what we’re hoping is that on Friday this can be a symbol that people, no matter what they’re campaigning on, can get behind, and can feel that this is representing them and all their campaign issues.”

The blimp’s appearance in central London was approved by the Greater London Authority, and Mayor Sadiq Khan has defended the decision, saying it is not for him to be a censor or to decide what is in good or bad taste.

Additional reporting by Aine Fox, Press Association