Climate protesters paint US Embassy in London as Trump declares victory

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - Climate protesters on Wednesday sprayed orange paint onto the US Embassy building in London after Donald Trump claimed victory in the presidential election.

In a statement, the Just Stop Oil activists said they took the action in response to Trump's victory and reiterated their demand for governments to work together to end the extraction and burning of oil, gas and coal by 2030.

"The only real winner of today’s election is the corporate power that controls the major parties in both the US and UK. Regardless of who sits in the White House, corporations and billionaires will ensure that the interests of the fossil fuel industry will continue to be prioritised over the wellbeing of ordinary people," said a Just Stop Oil spokesperson.

One of those taking action this morning is Joseph Aggarwal, 25, from London, who said: “Across the western world people can vote for parties that bear more resemblance than difference to one another. No matter who they vote for they receive an assault on living conditions, continued injustice and the drive towards climate collapse. This lack of real democracy breeds resentment and allows bad actors like Trump to exploit the disquiet to further benefit the billionaire class. Meanwhile, the interests of fossil capital are well attended while the interests of ordinary people are put to the margins. I don’t want to live with this.”

72-year-old Jimmy, who was one of the participants in today's action, expressed solidarity with Just Stop Oil supporters in prison.

"We stand with our 24 supporters in prison, with the 1,800 victims of our broken criminal justice system imprisoned for over a year without trial and with the 1,700 murdered across the global south, for protecting all our lives," he said.

For his part, Joseph Aggarwal, 25, said: "...Lack of real democracy breeds resentment and allows bad actors like Trump to exploit the disquiet to further benefit the billionaire class."

On X, the group released photos and video clip from the protest. The Metropolitan Police said two men, aged 25 and 72, were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage.

Donald Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 US election, winning a second, non-consecutive term as president.