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Henry Riley asks LBC callers if they think King Charles' state visit to the US should still go ahead in light of the recent shooting at the White House correspondents' dinner. He also hears from James Hamilton, founder of the Hamilton Security Group - who is a former FBI Supervisory Special Agent and the creator of its Close Protection School. 00:01 | Expert analysis on the security detailing at the Washington Hilton 03:30 | Caller Shaun gives his opinion as an ex-service man 07:22 | Caller Joshua gives 'the spineless media' a grilling in their approach to the state visit 09:48 | Caller Mark doesn't want the King to go to the US 12:19 | Caller Jane: 'Britain has paved with blood to help America' 15:25 | Caller Joseph thinks the King should still go the US to show solidarity Listen to the full show on the all-new LBC App: https://app.af.lbc.co.uk/btnc/thenewlbcapp #HenryRiley #KingCharles #Royals #Crime #Security #WorldNews #Politics #USA #UK #UKNews #USANews #Trump #RoyalFamily #LBC LBC is the home of live debate around news and current affairs in the UK. Join in the conversation and listen at https://www.lbc.co.uk/ Sign up to LBC’s weekly newsletter here: https://l-bc.co/signup
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0:00
Remember, the hotel, the Hilton, is a business, a business of making money
0:05
And certainly they don't want their guest search screened, magnetometered as they come in to and from their guest rooms
0:13
And obviously the Secret Service would like that. That's exactly what they would like to do. But the Hilton is not going to allow that
0:18
And it sounds like the best that the service could get was the magnetometers within 100 yards inside
0:26
and then they started to implement what we call concentric rings of security
0:31
So no, not surprised by this. Happy that he wasn't able to get through the second level and was stopped
0:38
But not surprised when you do security events in these public environments
0:42
you're going to see these types of things. What sort of questions will be asked, James, in the investigation that's taking place
0:49
Because you've spoken then specifically about the sort of ticketing and about the fact this was a public hotel, as you rightly say
0:55
but specifically the fact that this individual was able to get through two security checkpoints
0:59
what else do you imagine will feature yeah i don't know about the two i saw one um i don't know about
1:05
a second security checkpoint that he got through if you watch the video he came late which is
1:12
really historically accurate most attacks happen after the event starts um there's a reason for
1:18
that but you know you see him jump through that magnetometer so i think they'll look at you know
1:24
what type of magnetometers are they using? And there are other magnetometers that are much more isolating
1:31
You know, they'll literally, it's like at the airport. You walk in and it's like a man trap and they own you in there and you can't get out, I think
1:37
But those are very heavy. They're expensive. But I would see them considering something like that to avoid what you saw in that video
1:45
where the guy just ran through the magnetometer. And then it's a matter of what do you do
1:49
Do you shoot him? You saw their first reaction was to draw their guns. Well, if he doesn't have a weapon in his hand, you can't shoot a guy in the back
1:55
So, you know, that's all going to be looked at, obviously. And then the badging, of course, I think he I think your reporter said something about you didn't have to show your ID
2:04
That's a problem. And certainly they'll look at that. But this is going to happen in a free society
2:10
We're going to see these things. And, you know, it's unfortunate, but we're grateful that this thing wasn't a hell of a lot worse
2:17
Well, quite. And we heard Caroline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, has been speaking as well and saying that there is a sort of uncomfortable level of political violence, of discourse as well, as we are seeing
2:32
And of course, whilst this wasn't a direct attempt on the president's life because the gunman wasn't able to make it that way, but of course we have seen this in the past with regards to this president
2:44
Well, not just this president. Well, quite, yeah. Right. 2017, we had a congressman shot at a baseball game. Both parties were present. And we all said the same thing then. The level of rhetoric is too high. This must stop. We must all get along
3:01
And here we are 11, you know, what are we, nine years later and the same stuff's going on
3:07
And it's the highest I've seen it as far as the vitriol between the parties and individuals who are angry at this particular president
3:18
Look at the numbers of attempts on this individual. It's startling. And so the Secret Service clearly understands the challenges they have around protecting this current president
3:29
I mean, you've just had an ex-FBI guy on who seems, you know, he seems to have accepted that they can't do the job
3:37
You know, oh, well, we've accepted the challenges. Crap you. You know, oh, well, you can't shut down a public hotel
3:44
If you can't shut down the bits of the public hotel that you need to make sterile in order to achieve the security aims, then it is the wrong hotel, isn't it
3:54
Yeah, I was thinking that it seems very strange to have it. I mean, I know Donald Trump is building his ballroom
3:59
which I think he did reference overnight. He's probably going to host it in the future, which sort of strangely seems like whilst the amount of money spent on it is not I mean it sort of feels like it should be in a more secure location because the idea that you factor in that guests will be there separately
4:13
does seem strange when you have literally the President, the First Lady, the Vice President, the Secretary of State, I mean, the list goes on
4:20
Well, indeed, I mean, there should have been a sterile area to protect the main secure area
4:27
Yeah. Now, I mean, what else were they going to do? were they going to invite the government to have a starter and an early drink
4:36
Yeah. Before he did what he did. Well, and of course, Sean, we have the added spectacle of the fact
4:43
King Charles is heading there tomorrow. Correct. And, you know, any British security operative will tell you
4:51
the wide-held opinion and the first rule of security is the offenders only need to be lucky once
5:01
Yeah. We need to be lucky, and we need to be on the ball every single time
5:08
And it doesn't sound like the Americans can do that by their own admission
5:14
Well, a couple of minutes ago, oh, well, we've seen the challenges. We can't do it
5:18
In fairness, I mean, he was... Should we be sending the king to be guarded by people like that
5:25
I don't think so. Well, I mean, let's be clear as well. I mean, I haven't sort of served like you, Sean
5:32
but nonetheless, I think the point the former FBI agent James was making
5:38
was that there have been attempts on the president, you know, as early as the 1800s with Abraham Lincoln
5:43
So, you know, and of course he was assassinated. Yeah, but Henry shouldn't have learned
5:48
Well, of course, but it's, I mean, you know yourself, Sean, that the threats evolve and change
5:55
Oh, indeed. But how on earth did this guy get anywhere near that event
6:01
You're quite right. And you would pull the king's visit on that basis alone
6:05
Well, absolutely. I mean, we're not talking about a pop star's wedding here
6:10
We're talking about, you know, the king of England or the king of the United Kingdom, to get it absolutely correct
6:20
OK. And before this had happened, Sean, and I just wonder, with your sort of non-serviceman hat on
6:26
do you think the visit was a sensible idea in the first place? No, I don't
6:30
I mean, the guy before the news who tried to give you a hard time
6:37
about how nasty you were being to dear old Donald, you know, this is dear old Donald who said of our forces
6:44
of the British forces, they were at the back in Afghanistan and Iraq
6:49
Well, we weren't, actually. I was there in Iraq. So how dare you
6:53
And also, Donald, perhaps you'd like to tell me when your service was
6:58
Well, yeah, and let's not forget, he, I think, skipped it on a number of occasions, didn't he
7:02
He did. I think the words of Draft Dodger, that's what you're looking for. Quite. And, Sean, I mean, that's not the only comment
7:10
We've also seen the comments with regards to the Falklands over the last few days
7:15
Absolutely. Who on earth does he think he is? You know, he's not Judge, Jury and Executioner for the world
7:21
The amount of despots and dictators the British establishment has hosted over the years
7:27
this is just another day in the life. Vladimir Putin, of course, yeah. Well, quite frankly so
7:31
And like I said, people in the media, such as yourselves, nod it along
7:36
never say anything about this, never do anything about it, except you'll all be there laughing and guffawing along
7:43
with any silly jokes that are made because you're all the same. You're all spineless, not necessarily you
7:49
I'm talking about the establishment. I try not to take it personally. Yeah, I'm not talking about you
7:53
I'm saying the media and the British establishment is spineless. Anyway. Hold on, Josh
7:58
I mean, let me pick up on that because it's a levy
8:02
But, you know, I don't blame you for saying it. I think if I thinking about what you say there the Keir Starmer visit to the White House was there was sort of an unctuous nature to it where it was I think because there was so much jeopardy
8:19
when it did go to plan, you're right, there probably was a little bit of, oh, actually, maybe Donald Trump isn't that bad
8:24
and we sort of, there was an element where people did forget what had happened. That's true
8:28
However, ultimately, I think there's also a sense among people that there is so much jeopardy
8:34
and we don't want the king particularly dragged into a slinging match with Donald Trump
8:40
You just look at how he's turned on Keir Starmer. There is an element that we probably want it to go
8:45
as well as can go, really, and it probably plays into our arsenal
8:49
that he's a fan of the royal family. I don't think that means that we're all sort of guffawing along
8:54
and, you know, having a toasting champagne afterwards. I'm certainly not doing that
8:58
No, no, I mean, as I say, he will go and do what he has to do
9:02
and, you know, probably there's a very high chance that Trump won't say anything anyway
9:06
it'll all go fine. But what I mean is the guffawing stuff. I'm actually referring to
9:11
if you look at what happened last night with the White House Correspondents Dinner, not the shooting
9:15
I'm not about the fact that all of the people that Trump has and his administration have maligned
9:19
and called all sorts of names and all the rest of it
9:23
were happy to go along and smile and pretend everything was fine
9:26
I'm talking about the media, the people that have been kicked out of the White House. But it is sort of one night, Joshua
9:33
where people are, I know it's difficult to say, given all of the baggage that comes with President Trump
9:38
But I think it's one night where you do try and put that to one side to some extent
9:42
But look, I do understand how it seems, and I've certainly never been invited to one, not that I would do
9:48
It isn't going to happen because the king's already made his decision. I don't think the king should go
9:53
I don't think he's going to be safe. When you say it ain't going to happen, what do you mean, sorry
9:58
He is going to go, so it won't be cancelled, but he could cancel
10:02
The king could cancel if he wanted to. I think this would be reason enough. Yeah, absolutely, because the point is, you know, the Americans are so gung-ho with them
10:11
I mean, they're a nation of gunslingers. They always have been. And there's Malcolm Rifkin saying, oh, the king has to go
10:18
Former Foreign Secretary, just to remind people. Yeah, whoever he was. Yeah, I know who he was
10:22
But he says, oh, the king has to go. It's the 250th anniversary
10:26
What I think, if the king did cancel, it might push Trump and all those people that are in the gun lobby
10:35
to think about changing their gun laws because nothing will change because everybody can have a gun in America
10:43
And, you know, I don't think the king's going to be safe, really
10:47
Um, I mean, look, it's probably best for us not to speculate on that, really
10:52
because, of course, we want the king to stay safe. But, look... Of course I want the king to be safe
10:56
but I think it's going to be very, very risky if that guy got through too supposedly secure
11:01
and Trump's saying how wonderful security is. Yes, but I mean, thankfully, the king's going to be in the White House
11:07
as opposed to a public hotel would obviously be the difference. But he's still going to be out in public then
11:11
There's all these mad people with guns, you know? Anyway, sorry, I think it's crazy
11:16
Well, don't apologise, it's your view. So you don't think it should have been happening in the first place
11:21
and that they've... Well, I don't know, why do you think the king is going in the first place
11:28
Oh, my goodness me, what a question. because you said Malcolm Rithkind
11:32
about the 250th anniversary I mean why do we still listen to people like him
11:38
respectfully he was foreign secretary Mark so he's very old I'm very old
11:44
he's very experienced he's younger than President Trump why do you think he's doing it in the first place
11:52
what the king well hopefully I'm really so confused about whether we're special relationship and all that now
12:04
Maybe the king will change something. He's very, very diplomatic. He knows how to deal with people
12:11
Hopefully Trump won't put his foot in it too much, but the king will cope with it But I really don think he going to be safe Really don Britain has paid with blood to help America We have paid with our blood to help you guys
12:26
And actually, you know, if you want to go back during the Second World War, you guys rocked up when pretty much
12:31
we had done all the hard work. So don't start coming and talking to us
12:36
about the fact that we have never supported you. That is a load of rubbish. And frankly, insulting, given the... Completely
12:46
Yeah, yeah, no quite. Yeah, completely, completely insulting. So to now expect us to come and support him
12:53
after all of the disgusting things that he's said about our armed forces and our country
12:59
you know, forget it. I mean, I don't disagree that Iran needs to be dealt with
13:03
I don't disagree with that at all. And I think that it does take somebody
13:08
with some kind of gumption and with some kind of idea and plan
13:12
Well, preferably a plan, yeah, which there hasn't been in this case. Yeah, it would be nice, wouldn't it
13:16
Yeah, it would be nice. But anyway, sorry, we're straying off of topic
13:20
I just wanted to put that out there. Well, I'm pleased you made that point, because you're right, the 457 British personnel
13:27
who were killed in Afghanistan... And other Europeans. Yeah. And other Europeans
13:32
I mean, you know, how dare they? Talk to me about the king's visits, Jane
13:38
So where the king is concerned, I really think everybody needs to calm down
13:43
Let him go. We're not going to be stupid enough to hand him over to the American Secret Service
13:48
and allow them to protect him. We'll be doing our own stuff. It is what we pay the king to do
13:54
He's there to do that public service for us. He needs to go over there
13:59
What's it going to be like? More than likely a disaster because Trump is a loose cannon
14:04
He's an embarrassment. I disagree with you. I think it's going to go smoothly because when it's built up that there's so much jeopardy
14:13
I think Donald Trump will be in his best behaviour. I think the King is so seasoned in these events that he knows
14:20
and he'll have made it very clear how this is going to go beforehand. I think we'll all sort of get caught up in the moment, to be honest, Jane
14:27
and it will, well, I mean, famous last words, but I think it will go sort of largely to plan
14:34
similar to Keir Starmer's visit, sort of at the, when was it, last year
14:39
yeah i mean but does it matter i mean what are we going to get out of this
14:44
i mean he's not going to turn around and start you know behaving like a normal person he's still
14:48
going to be as crazy as he is now as he will be after the event so i don't really get what we're
14:54
getting out of this i think it's just off the show you know we're just we're just trying to
14:58
keep him on side we're trying to massage his ego because with someone who is as deranged as he is
15:03
what else can you do you know so so i don't think that there's going to be any kind of economic shift
15:08
for us. I don't think it's going to be beneficial for us. I think we all just need to pay attention
15:13
very closely to this, you know, so-called close relationship with America and actually be looking
15:20
at the rest of Europe and hopefully they equally have a bit of a wake-up call
15:25
I think that King Charles 100% should go to the United States of America and show solidarity
15:33
If he doesn't go, I feel it might be a huge insult to President Trump and maybe to
15:37
many Americans. And I think King Charles would be absolutely brilliant in going to America
15:42
and smoothing over any tensions. I also think it's worth bearing in mind
15:48
and I'm going to be very delicate about this. I don't want to offend anyone. There are a lot of Americans, whether they support the situation in Iran or not
15:58
who are very angry at Sir Keir Starmer and the UK for not allowing the US military
16:03
to use UK basis regarding Iran. And it's not really about the politics or the politicians
16:11
Americans have this feeling with unity between the United States and special relationship
16:16
with the UK that it is paramount from US view, I believe, that the US military is supported
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