Mr Trump is widely expected to make his second trip across the pond to Britain in June, to coincide with the 75th anniversary of D-Day. Defence minister Tobias Ellwood has pilled the pressure on the forthright Speaker, by insisting it is important to “reaffirm our commitment” with the UK’s “closest of allies and most crucially the US”. Mr Ellwood told the Telegraph: “D-Day represents the bedrock of our international relationships.”
He added: “As we pay tribute to a generation of brave veterans who sacrificed their lives to defend our values, we can reaffirm our commitment to step forward with our closest of allies and most crucially the US to defend those same values once again under threat.”
The Tory MP for Bournemouth East, urged Mr Bercow to put his differences aside by stating the bond between the UK and its transatlantic neighbours is “greater than any one individual”.
Mr Ellwood added: “The special relationship matters. It is greater than any one individual, however controversial.
“So we should leverage the US President’s state visit, including the opportunity to formally address Parliament.”
In 2017, Mr Bercow controversially said it was “not an automatic right” to address both the House of Commons and House of Lords, insisting “it is an earned honour”.
Mr Trump’s two-day working visit in July last year, was not regarded as a state visit, as it was not hosted by the Queen.
However the red carpet was rolled out for the US president and his wife Melania who met the Queen at Windsor Castle, and was also treated to dinner at Blenheim Palace with Prime Minister Theresa May.
Meanwhile former Navy chief Lord West of Spithead said it would be “an absolute disgrace” if Mr Bercow stopped the US president from speaking in Parliament.
He said: “The US and Britain saved Europe from a very dark time in its history and without America we would not have beaten the Nazis.
“Many Americans gave their lives on D-Day and beyond, and it would be disgraceful not to allow President Trump to speak.
“He is the elected US president, he is representing the US in that context, they are a key part of Nato and our most important ally.”
Only two occupants of the White House have been treated to a grand state visit during the Queen’s reign, George W Bush in 2003 and Barack Obama in May 2011.
