Shock, despair and disbelief. All that many feel about Trump’s astonishing victory will mirror exactly what so many people around the world felt when the UK voted for Brexit summed up in the simple question – How could they?
Well, they did and the ramifications are enormous.
As Trump’s imminent second term in the White House looms we can expect a USA that is more isolationist, unpredictable and dangerous. Trump’s made his views on NATO clear, he will be less supportive of Ukraine and want to be seen as the peacemaker even if that means doing Putin’s dirty work for him, leaving Kyiv much weaker and European security in even greater danger.
As for the escalating conflict in the Middle East, it’s a bitter coincidence that as Trump was winning across the USA, Israel’s President Netanyahu sacked one of the more moderate voices in the Knesset virtually extinguishing any glimmer of hope of an end to this bloody and terrible war.
There’s another peril, that comes from the threat of tariffs and a trade war. Trump says tariff is ‘a beautiful word’ but if he goes ahead with turning that word into action, the global economy will be shaken. He wants to impose 60% on all imports from China and 20% on goods from other countries which could halve the UK’s economic growth rate, see interest rates and inflation rise. If reports of his best buddy Elon Musk being given some sort of commerce role in Trump’s new administration then it’s likely to be a rocky ride.
While European leaders have been prompt and courteous in offering congratulations and pledging to work with the new President, there’s no doubt this is a wake-up call to the continent, already fractured over immigration and the rise of the right.
We face real challenges over defence, security and climate change so it is vital that Keir Starmer turns his attention to Europe, regardless of the siren voices claiming Labour simply wants to overturn the Brexit referendum. Our future in so many areas is intertwined with our nearest neighbours and it’s time to recognise that the so-called special relationship probably waned a long time ago.
Unless of course you’re on Planet Kemi because the new leader of the Tory party couldn’t even wait for Kamala Harris’s concession speech before demanding that Trump be invited to address the UK Parliament and David Lammy apologise for past comments about Trump. While Kemi accused the government of playing student politics and the PM of speaking from a script, she managed to do a pretty good job of doing exactly that. Some will have been delighted to see Priti Patel back in the picture but might be wondering where Robert Jenrick was when Badenoch made her debut at PMQs.
Trump’s presidency certainly presents a headache for Starmer but on her first appearance, the new leader of the Opposition doesn’t look like she’s going to at least for now.
