'Donald Trump needs to be given a chance', says Republicans Overseas UK chairman after mass protests

Republicans Overseas UK chairman Malise Sundstrom, third from left, said people are rushing to judgement on Trump
Malise Sunstrom
Patrick Grafton-Green31 January 2017

The chairman of Republicans Overseas UK has condemned Monday’s anti-Trump protests in London and across the UK saying Trump “needs to be given a chance”.

The protests were sparked when Trump signed an executive order banning US entry for people from seven Muslim-majority countries – Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen – and temporarily halting the admission of refugees.

On Monday night thousands of Londoners armed with banners marched to Downing Street in protest, while campaigners took to the streets of other UK cities, including Brighton, Manchester and Edinburgh.

Malise Sundstrom, who has been chairman of Republicans Overseas UK since last September, described the “hysteria” as “worrying”.

Thousands of protesters march to Downing Street in Trump rally

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She told the Standard: “I have a problem with protests generally.

“I think things are very emotional right now for everyone, and I understand that people are frustrated but there is a rushed judgement.

“Trump has only been President for 10 days.”

Ms Sundstrom, who worked for President George W Bush's administration, admitted there were “mistakes” with the implementation of the policy and the policy itself.

She said green-card holders, for example, should not have been banned.

Many green-card holders, who are permanent US residents, were denied entry when the policy was initially put in place, although this has since been amended.

She said: “It was done in haste and the implementation is a problem but a lot of people elected President Trump on his vision, on broader themes of security.

“While I don’t support how rushed this has been I don’t think people should rush to judgement on him either, that kind of hysteria is worrying.

“People wanting to stop his state visit, who want to reject his inauguration. He did win the election.”

She added that people in major cities like London are thinking of their own interests, and not respecting those who voted for Trump and Brexit.

Ms Sundstrom said: “The UK has its own concerns of Brexit, these general themes of nationalism vs globalism.

“These are people who believe in globalism, and that is being challenged by Trump and in the UK.

“I think the Obama attitude of ‘things are fine, we will take care of it’ is being rejected.

“London and New York are very much the same but people outside of these cities have a different reality, those who haven’t been served by the globalist system – and that needs to be shown respect.”

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