Larry the Downing Street Cat, one of Britain’s most beloved felines and official Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office, caused a stir for President Trump on Tuesday during his U.K. visit.
The tenacious tabby held a sit-in under Trump’s limo, nicknamed “The Beast,” while it was parked in front of 10 Downing Street and “refused to move,” according to a tweet from NBC reporter Bill Neely.
“Huge security issue as Larry the Downing St. cat shelters under Donald Trump’s limo ‘The Beast’ and refuses to move,” Neely said in the tweet.
Huge security issue as Larry the Downing St. cat shelters under Donald Trump’s limo ‘’the Beast’ & refuses to move. #TrumpinUK pic.twitter.com/i9w4B6w8FK
— Bill Neely (@BillNeelyReport) June 4, 2019
It’s not clear how long Trump’s travel plans were held up by Larry’s antics, if at all. This isn’t the first time the two met — earlier in Trump’s U.K. visit, a photo was taken of Trump and Prime Minister Theresa May in front of Larry’s house, the government offices at 10 Downing Street in London.
The photo shows Larry keeping his distance from the spectacle on a nearby windowsill.
If you think I’m getting off this windowsill you’ve got another thing coming… #TrumpUKVisit
(Photo: @davidbrunnstrom) pic.twitter.com/x6qwBzczMP— Larry the Cat (@Number10cat) June 4, 2019
But don’t let his innocent cuteness fool you — Larry has pulled a stunt like this before. When May gave her resignation speech Friday, Larry wouldn’t budge from his perch outside Number 10 and the staff had to lure him in. Then, when May walked back inside, Larry was lounging on the carpet and refused to move again, forcing May to step around him, according to a news clip from Sky News posted to Twitter by Royal Central editor-in-chief Charlie Proctor.
Security incident in Downing Street after Larry the Cat tries to get inside The Beast.
He is currently sat underneath the car meaning it can’t move. pic.twitter.com/ZxQIwzOD4S
— Charlie Proctor (@MonarchyUK) June 4, 2019
Others took to Twitter to weigh in on Larry’s catty demonstration.
“Larry the Cat isn’t the hero we expected, but it turns out he’s the hero we need,” said Robert Maguire, research director for Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW).
Larry the Cat isn't the hero we expected, but it turns out he's the hero we need https://t.co/GrwsqcvIEM
— Robert Maguire (@RobertMaguire_) June 4, 2019
“Larry the cat ran inside Number 10 for a couple of minutes while Donald Trump was there, but quickly retreated into the rain. Presumably wanted to stay out of grabbing distance,” tweeted Mikey Smith, politics correspondent for the Mirror.
Larry the cat ran inside Number 10 for a couple of minutes while Donald Trump was there, but quickly retreated into the rain.
Presumably wanted to stay out of grabbing distance. https://t.co/SSHWWtERE5 pic.twitter.com/awNlrs6lzj
— Mikey Smith (@mikeysmith) June 4, 2019
The BBC’s Jon Sopel pointed out in a tweet that “anti-Trump demonstrators fail to stop @realDonaldTrump motorcade, but @Number10cat does. Lodges himself under wheel of #TheBeast #StateVisit.”
BREAKING: anti-Trump demonstrators fail to stop @realDonaldTrump motorcade, but @Number10cat does. Lodges himself under wheel of #TheBeast #StateVisit pic.twitter.com/PAb8pWxItS
— Jon Sopel (@jonsopel) June 4, 2019