US-UK union tepid but hopeful

05.06.2019

It might have been that Trump’s behavior fit the highest standards bill during his stay at the Buckingham Palace, but in his own Twitter residence the US’ president is going all the way to tear his rivals apart. Still floating in the air above the United Kingdom, he called Sadiq Khan, the current London mayor, a “stone cold loser” and urged him to focus “on crime”, not on him. The British politician was fairly exasperated and claimed the values the Londoners and the whole nation share are contrasted to those of the United States, ignoring the fact that Trump considers the US the main ally for the UK. Unfortunately for Khan, the British and the UK in whole, he’s not the only one to think so.

«Security and prosperity»

With the long history of the UK-US diplomatic relationship, Trump is only the third to be invited by a British monarch (George Bush and Barack Obama were the first to do so). It didn’t change even with the British being completely furious over his policies, which they fearlessly stated back in 2018 and repeated in 2019.

A repetitive invitation can only mean one thing: despite the controversy Trump provides and his ever-low image among the British, the people in power still bet on him and prefer to maintain warm relationship, even if he didn’t treat all of them so well. Chastising Theresa May, breaching the diplomatic protocol after meeting the Queen – all of that should have set prim and proper Brits against Trump. Yet, itdidn’t.

“Our relationship has underpinned our countries' security and prosperity for many years, and will continue to do so for generations to come”, claimed May ahead of the visit. Provided the UK leaves the EU, this will surely happen: as Trump repeatedly stated, this brings the two countries to wage trade with a great economic potential. He specifically mentioned medical services and cheaper food. Neither the Labour nor the Conservatives were happy: the low prices, they say, mean the low quality. The intensification of US trade might adversely affect the nation’s health in the long-run. “He's very controversial, he's a disruptor”, Jeremy Hunt, the UK’s Foreign Minister said, “but he's also president of our most important ally”.

Leaving the EU, GB is seeking support from another prominent world trade figure, even when it gives most obvious negative effects on their own level of life. Leaving the European Union surely brings massive economic obstacles and the reloading of multiple national systems potentially not prepared for that, so any support will do. But doesn’t it mean that parting with the EU and seeking support from such a demanding partner like the US takes GB into another dependent relationship? And what is, after all, less beneficial – the membership of EU or alliance with the States?

What’s so wrong with Donald Trump?

Prince Charles repeatedly stated the ever-growing threat from the global climate change, which was often referred to by Trump as to a “hoax”. The teatime that took place between them was about to long for just 15 minutes – but, as the President said himself in the interview to Good Morning Britain, ended up in 90. The Prince was rambling about the consequences of global warming, while Trump was automatically repeating: “The US are clean. The other countries are to blame for the crisis”. The ones to blame were, not surprisingly, India, China and, surely, Russia.

The first President’s visit was also adorned by the protesters who blew up an inflatable balloon depicting the baby Trump, which was later sent to the British Museum “protest exposition”. Fortunately for Trump, he didn’t have to deal with the mortal Londoners, but they went all the way out to show how unwelcome he was there. 1,8-mln petition against the President’s visit, more than 100 protests planned ahead – yet the 2018 visit turned out without any negative consequences and took place again. Theresa May, who was already proven to be incompetent in finishing what she had started, was his main target – yet after the talks their relationship prospered, and May turned out to having performed terrifically well.

As of today, Trump refused to meet the Labour’s leader, Jeremy Corbyn, who was one of the loudest opponents of the visit. Hearing the news about the mass protests, the US President labeled them in the all-familiar fashion: “fake news”. He also added there were not so much people. Later, though, Trump softened his heart, considering the now meeting “inappropriate”, but possible in the future. After meeting the crowds of protesters on the way to Portsmouth to commemorate 75 years since D-Day Landings, Trump tweeted:

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1136181473306914816

Whether it was a planned mocking of the infuriated British or just Trump’s ignorance, is up to discussion.

Life after May

The objection is always possible: due to the political situation, you have to turn a blind eye on frictions, however prominent they are, to unite against the common enemy – which happens to be, sadly, the European Union. Not the global warming, as Prince Charles wants it, not the calamity that can only be avoided by cooperation. As it goes, the repeated invitation for Trump means GB is changing sides, but the balance of power resides.

After all, what do the common Brits know about waging politics – they aren’t the one to give Trump excursions of the Buckingham Palace and to drink tea with him. They only see a playful child in the political driving seat who has an access to Twitter – and, quite logically, see his reign as not the best for the universal welfare. Still, they are the ones who vote for Brexit – what do they need after all? Do they seek for economic collapse that GB won’t be able to avoid if they break all the trade connections down?

Theresa May isn’t the one whose decisions are flawless – they were the ones to make her resign after all. But shall Boris Johnson take the PM place, the Trump’s chap will do everything in his power to make the relationship between the US and the UK “prosper for generations to come”, with the words of Theresa May, and the British people don’t stand a chance in arguing that.

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US-UK union tepid but hopeful

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