Chris Mason: Trump visit puts focus on pageantry after PM's tough fortnight

The article discusses the upcoming visit of US President Donald Trump to the UK, which is expected to provide a temporary distraction from the recent challenges faced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government. The BBC's political editor, Chris Mason, suggests that the government will hope the pageantry and spectacle of the Trump visit will shift the focus away from questions surrounding the involvement of Peter Mandelson, a Labour peer, in the ongoing Brexit negotiations. The article notes that the past two weeks have been difficult for the Prime Minister, with various controversies and political disputes, including the sacking of Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson. The visit of President Trump, with its associated ceremonial events, is seen as an opportunity for the government to move the public discourse in a different direction, at least temporarily. The article emphasizes the importance of the pageantry and diplomatic aspects of the visit, which are expected to overshadow the political challenges faced by the government in the preceding weeks.